New Christmas Sacred

Ave Maria.....TC-270.....$1.20 Preview
Fauré, Gabriel (1845-1924)

From the master of memorable melodies, a short unison setting easy enough for children, sophisticated enough for adults. This piece has been recorded by the trebles of King’s College Choir, Cambridge, and will linger in your singers’ minds and hearts.
Unison, piano. Latin. Easy.

Noël des Marins (Sailors' Carol).....TC-276.....$2.25

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)                 Preview

This original setting of a poem by Armand Silvestre has dark, powerful sections contrasting the beauty of Christmas candles on land with the darkness and danger of the sea. Gentle sections with rocking rhythms remind the absent sailors of the children they have left at home, and ask for their prayers. The piece closes with an image of the prayers of those on land, and the hymns of the sailors, meeting and crossing in the space which separates them.
SSAA, soprano solo, and piano; French; Easy-Med.

New Other Sacred

"Alleluia" is the entire text of this new work for women's choir. Moving mostly in gentle quarter- and half-notes, this finely-wrought setting begins and ends gently, with a crescendo to double forte in the middle section. Your church choir can sing this anthem-length setting any time except Advent and Lent; and your concert choir will find it a lovely middle-of-program piece which teaches careful tuning and seamless blend. SSAA a cappella. Easy-Medium.

Give Thanks for Music.....TC-272.....$1.70
Parker, Alice Preview

Invoking the key, tempo, and rhythms of the Thanksgiving hymn, "We gather together," this setting builds a cumulative texture over an original melody in the alto line. Commissioned by Sigma Alpha Iota in honor of their hundredth anniversary, it makes a fine festival opener.
SSA and piano, English. Easy-Medium.

O Virgo splendens (O Virgin Resplendent).....TC-274.....$1.70
Anonymous (14th c.) Preview

A late medieval canon, moving almost entirely in fluid eighth-note triplets, comes to rest at the end of each phrase. Edited by Mark Winges for the Piedmont Children's Choirs, this piece works beautifully as a processional.
SSA a cappella, Latin. Easy-Medium.

New Folk Songs

Cuckoo is a Pretty Bird.....TC-271.....$1.70 Preview
Clemens, James E., arr.

Beware of false love! This spare but lively setting of the American folk song has just enough piano accompaniment to give it momentum; everybody else gets the melody and some simple counter-melodies. Love goes wrong in this song, but the rhythmic vitality of its modal harmonies is upbeat: no whining.
SSA and Piano; English. Easy.

New Other Secular

This legato lullaby with rocking rhythms imagines dreams coming in on little boats at sunset, then sailing away again at dawn.
SSAA a cappella, English. Easy-Medium.

Mulligatawny Macbeth.....TC-266.....$4.75
Govedas, John E.   Preview

This setting of the "Witches' Song" from Macbeth boils and bubbles with shrieks, cackles, and short spoken solos. The piano part sets a thundery stage for "Double, double toil and trouble" choral ostinatos and six minutes of general musical mayhem. Some "choralography" (flickering lizard tongues, panting dog sounds) is provided for, with scope for much, much more. The Oakville Children's Choir, directed by Glenda Crawford, made this piece a big hit at the 2005 ACDA National Convention.
SSAA; piano; English; Medium.

1. Landscape.....TC-264.....$1.70....Preview
The poem, and the rhythmic plan of increasing and decreasing activity, describe a female sun's path from dawn to night. Along the way, she illumines a lake, marigold blossoms, and icy mountain tops. SSAA and piano, English, Medium.

2. Night.....TC-265.....$1.70....Preview
Female night rolls out a cover of darkness and paints the skies with stars, then summons her loyal companion, the male moon. SSAA and piano, English, Medium.