Choral Literature Choices
This compilation of literature ideas is an excellent initial resource for a choral literature course, or for beginning teachers. The first part is a listing of works that should be common knowledge for all of us in this vocation. The second is one teacher's listing of works suitable for high school choirs of slightly limited means.
From: "William McConnell"
To: "Choralist" <choralist@lists.colorado.edu>
Subject: Compilation -- Works every choral conductor should know
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 21:36:01 -0600
Colleagues,
Thank you to all who responded to my request for repertoire. As you may recall, my request was for your top 25 (or so) works that every high school and/or church choir conductor should have at their disposal. What follows is a complete compilation (in two parts) of the responses. I must say, it would take at least a three year cycle of Choral Literature classes to get through all of this repertoire. Since I am focusing on only repertoire appropriate for reasonably skilled high school and church choirs, the asterisks indicate works that I will be including in my class's work next semester.
The second part of this compilation is an extensive list provided by Denise Baccadutre. Denise also includes some excellent thoughts on choosing repertoire for high school and church settings.
For the high school portion of the class I will also be including as a reference, the ACDA Monographs dealing with quality repertoire for high school and college choirs (available at http://www.acdaonline.org ). For the church portion I will be using the Oxford "New Church Anthem Book."
A constant thread in the responses admonished me to deal with issues relating to teaching the repertoire as well as the repertoire itself. That was in my plan, and your suggestions have been heard.
Happy reading!
Bill McConnell
Bach, J.S.
Cantata 4
Jesu, meine Freude
"Ich lasse dich nicht" (Either J.S. or Johann Christoph Bach. The
attribution is unsettled.)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring *
Bainton, Edgar
And I Saw a New Heaven
Samuel Barber
The Coolin *
Sure on this Shining Night *
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Hallelujah (Mount of Olives) *
Béla Bartók
Four Slovak Folksongs *
Bennet, John
Weep, O Mine Eyes
Berlioz, Hector
L'adieu des bergers
Bernstein, Leonard
Chichester Psalms
Brahms, Johannes
Begräbnisgesang
Es ist das Heil
Four Songs for Women's Chorus, Two Horns and Harp
Lass dich nur nicht nichts dauern
Liebeslieder Walzer
Neue Liebeslieder Walzer
O Heiland, reiss die Himmel auf
Zigeunerlieder (either set) *
How Lovely Is Thy Dweliing Place (German Requiem) *
Britten, Benjamin
A Ceremony of Carols *
Festival Te Deum
Jubilate Deo
Missa Brevis in D *
Psalm 150
Rejoice in the Lamb
The Sally Gardens
Hymn to St. Cecilia
Bruckner, Anton
Ave Maria
Christus factus est
Locus iste
Casals, Pablo
Nigra Sum *
Debussy, Claude
Trois Chansons de Charles d'Orléans
Diemer, Emma Lou
Three Madrigals *
Dunstable, John
Quam pulchra es
Durufle
Ubi Caritas *
Dvorák, Antonin
In Nature, op. 63
Farmer, John
Fair Phyllis
Fauré, Gabriel
Cantique de Jean Racine *
Requiem
Fine, Irving
Father William
Have You Seen the White Lily Grow?
The Choral New Yorker (entire set)
The Lobster Quadrille
Friedell, Harold
Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether *
Gabrieli, Giovanni
Hodie Christus natus est
Jubilate Deo
Handel, G. F.
Laudate pueri Dominum
Let God Arise
Let Thy Hand be Strengthened
O Sing unto the Lord
Choruses from Messiah *
Handl, Jacob
O magnum mysterium
Regnum mundi
Resonet in laudibus
Hassler, Hans Leo
Ad Dominum cum tribularer
Cantate Domino *
Haydn, F. J.
Die Beredsamkeit
Die Harmonie der Ehe
Missa Brevis Sti. Joannis de Deo *
Paukenmesse
Te Deum in C
Warnung; other partsongs *
"Lord Nelson" Mass (Missa in Augustiis)
Hindemith, Paul
Six Chansons
Puisque tout passe
Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
A Spotless Rose
Hovland, Egil
Saul
Ives, Charles
Psalm 90
Janequin, Clément
Le chant des oyseaux
Josquin Des Prez
Ave Maria, Gratia Plena
Jean Joubert (20th century)
There is No Rose of Such Virtue
Kodaly, Zoltan
Angels and Shepherds
Ave Maria
Missa Brevis
Turot escik a cigany
Lutkin
The Lord Bless You and Keep You
Matthews, Thomas
The Lord is my Shepherd *
Be Strong in the Lord
McCray, James
Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One
Mendelssohn, Felix
Auf dem See
Elijah
Lift Thine Eyes *
He Watching Over Israel *
Blessed Are the Ones Who Fear Him
There Shall A Star Come Out of Jacob (Christus) *
How Lovely are the Messengers (St. Paul)
Laudate pueri
Sechs Sprüche
Veni Domine
Monteverdi, Claudio
Beatus vir
Morley, Thomas
April is in my mistress face *
Fire, Fire My Heart
Morris, Robert
Fix Me Jesus
Mozart, W. A.
Ave verum corpus *
Missa Brevis in D, K. 186h
Regina Coeli
Requiem
Johann Pachelbel
Nun danket alle Gott
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da
Exsultate Deo
Jubilate Deo
Sicut Cervus *
Pärt, Arvo
Magnificat
Persichetti, Vincent
Celebrations
Mass
sam was a man *
Winter Cantata
Pergolesi
Magnificat in B-flat (?? Durante)
Pinkham, Daniel
Christmas Cantata (Symphonia Sacra) *
Wedding Cantata *
Pitoni, Giuseppe
Cantate Domino *
Poston, Elizabeth
Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree *
Poulenc, Francis
Gloria
Quatre motet pour un temps de
pénitence
Quatre motets pour un temps de Noel
Purcell, Henry
Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei
Rejoice in the Lord Alway
Thou Knowest, Lord *
Sound the Trumpet
Rachmaninoff, Sergei
sections of Vespers (All-Night Vigil)
Raminsh, Imant
Ave verum corpus
Ramsey, Robert
Sleep, fleshly birth
Rheinberger, Josef
Abendlied
Richardson, Michael (arr.)
The Morning Trumpet
Rossini, Giacomo
I Gondolieri *
La Passagiata *
Duet for Two Cats
Rutter, John
The Falcon
O Clap Your Hands *
For the Beauty of the Earth
Schein, Johann Hermann
Die mit Tränen säen
Wende dich, Herr
Schikele, Peter (a.k.a. PDQ Bach)
Liebeslieder Polkas
Schubert, Franz
Mass in E-flat
Mass in G *
Ständchen
Robert Schumann
Zigeunerleben
Schütz, Heinrich
Cantate Domino
Deutsches Magnificat
Ehre sei dir, Christe
Musikalische Exequien
Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich?
Selig sind die Toten
Singet dem Herrn
Schuman, William
Carols of Death
Seiber, Matyas
Three Hungarian Folk Songs
Shaw/Parker arr.
Garden Hymn
Bright Canaan
Good King Wenceslas *
The Morning Trumpet *
Any of the Shaw/Parker arrangements
Stravinsky, Igor
Bogoroditse Dievo
Otsche Nasch
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
Hodie Christus natus est
Tallis, Thomas
Hear the voyce and prayer
If ye love me *
O nata lux *
Tschesnekoff, Pavel
Salvation is Created
Thompson, Randall
Alleluia *
Glory to God in the Highest *
The Last Words of David
Frostiana *
Vaughan Williams, Ralph
Alistair McAlpine's Lament
Ca' the Yowes
O Taste and See *
Old Hundredth *
The Dark-Eyed Sailor
Orpheus with his Lute
O Clap Your Hands
Victoria, Tomas Luis da
Ave Maria *
Jesu dulcis memoria
O magnum mysterium *
O vos omnes
Vivaldi, Antonio
Beatus Vir
Magnificat
Gloria *
Contributors: Kirin Nielsen, Greg A, Lapp, Danny Wallenberg, Mark Trautman, John Howell, Laura Wolverton, Clair Rozier, Joshua Peterson, Tim Ward
Part 2
Typical high school male choir repertoire:
TB (Sometimes I order 2-part music that is usually used in a children's choir--but I teach the men the parts an octave lower)
1. Circle of Life - 2-part-arr. K. Christopher, pub. Hal Leonard, #08745849
2. Hakuna Matata - 2-part, arr. Roger Emerson, pub. Hal Leonard #08740004
3. A Tribute To the Everly Brothers, TB, arr. Roger Em,erson, pub Hal Leonard #04320541
4. This Train - arranged by Donald Moore
5. If You've Only Got a Moustache, TB, arr. by L. Van Camp, pub. Somerset #BR2011
6. Yellow Submarine - arr. John Leavitt, pub. Hal Leonard #08654134
7. Rhythm of Life - 2-prt., arr. John Leavitt, pub. Warner #SV9674
8. The High Coasts of Barbary, 2-part, arr. Jeanne Julseth-Heinrich
9. I Just Can't Wait To Be King, 2-part, arr. Mac Huff, pub. Hal Leonard #0870274
10. A-Rovin', TB, arr. Ron Jeffers, pub. Earthsongs
11. Sebben Crudele - 2 part, arr. Henry Leck, pub. Hal Leonard #08551415
12. Medieval Gloria - 2 part, by Vijay Singh, pub. Warner OCT9615
13. Three Hungarian Folksongs - 2-part-by Matyas Seiber
14. Man Is For the Woman Made, by Purcell, arranged by Arthur Frackenpohl
15. Aura Lee, 2-part, arranged by Carl Strommen, published by Warner SV9803
16. Wade In the Water - 2 part, arranged by Brad Printz, pub. Heritage #15/1248H
17. Two Folk Songs For Male Voices arranged by John Rutter
If you have high tenors, there's a beautiful arrangement of "Down by
the Sally Gardens". Pub. by Oxford Press M23
18. Drill Ye Tarriers, Drill, 2-part arr. by Kirby Shaw, pub. Hal Leonard
#08721208
19. I Want To Be a Sailor, TB, by Joseph Martin. Pub. by Warner SV9212
20. Streets of Laredo (One of my students' favorites--maybe because we are
in New Mexico!) arr. by Carl J. Nygard, Jr., pub. Hinshaw #HMC-844
21. Charlotte-Town, arr. Emily Crocker - HL471-03022
22. Cape Cod Chantey, arr. Jill Gallina, pub. Shawnee E0343
23. Drill Ye Tarriers, Drill, arr. Kirby Shaw, pub. Hal Leonard 08721208
TBB
1. I'm Bound Away -arranged by Donald Moore
2. Vive La Compagnie! arranged by Dave & Jean Perry
3. Love Potion No. 9, TTB, arr. Jeff Funk, pub. Warner CH96105
4. Homeward Bound - TBB, by Carl Strommen, pub. Warner SV9062
5. The Impossible Dream - arr. John Leavit, pub. Hal Leonard #08740790
6. When Yuba Plays the Rumba On the Tuba - arr. Carl Strommen
7. Brown-Eyed Girl - arr. Ma Huff
8. Lulu's Back In Town - arr. Kirby Shaw
9. They Call the Wind Maria - TBB, arr. Kirby Shaw, pub. Hal Leonard #08665998
10. The Time I've Lost-TBB, Thomas Moore/Rowland Blackley, pub. Southern #SC580
11. Madrigals for Tenor Bass Voices-TTB acappella, arr. by Sherri Porterfield, pub. Hal Leonard, #08741437
At the end of the year, my guys were able to split into four parts for
"Kiss the Girl"--arr. by Kirby Shaw, pub. Hal Leonard #08200367. Your men might also be able to sing "Dirait-on", TTBB, by Morten Lauridsen, pub. by
Peer Music. Even though it's in four parts, they're usually countrapuntal in
very beautiful, singable, four-part lines. The piece is in French and
is exquisite.
12. Bound For the Promised Land, TBB, arr. Emily Crocker, pub. Hal Leonard
#08703153
13. Jerulsalem, TTB, arr by Carl Strommen, pub. Warner #SV9606.
There's also a 2-part available #SV9607.
14. My Heart's In the Highlands, TTB/TBB, by Sherri Porterfield, pub. Shawnee # C0280
15. Rise Up My Love, My Fair One, TBB, by James McCray, pub. National
#WHC-173
16. Workin' On the Railroad, TTB, arr. Donald Moore, pub. Warner #SV9438
2-part women's choral music for a high school setting (when the women just
can't seem to hold 3 or more parts)
1. J'entends Le Moulin, SS, by Donald Patriquin, pub. Earthsongs #W-10
2. Ave Verum Corpus, 2-part, arr. John Leavitt, pub. CPP Belwin, #SV9215
3. I Will Arise, 2-part, arr. Alice Parker, pub. Mark Foster #YS0314
4. Sebben Crudele, 2-part, arr. Henry Leck, pub. Hal Leonard, #08551415
5. The Frim Fram Sauce, 2-part, arr. Greg Gilpin, pub. Shawnee #E0408
6. Joyful, Joyful, 2-part, arr. Roger Emerson, pub. Hal Leonard #40326319
7. Festival Sanctus, 2-part,by John Leavitt, pub. Warner SV9536
8. Ae Fond Kiss, 2-part, arr. Lee Kasselman, pub. Boosey
9. Danza, Danza, Fanciulla Gentile, 2-part, arr. J. Gallina, pub. Shawnee #E0380
10. Greensleeves, 2-part, by R. Vaughn Williams, pub. Oxford #82.004
11. Widmung, 2-part treble, arr. Henry Leck, pub. Colla Voce 20-96880
12. Al Shlosha D'varim, 2-part, by Allan Naplan, pub. Boosey
13. Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia - SA - by David Brunner, pub. Boosey & Hawkes
14. The Sound of the Pipe and Drum, 2-part, Certon/Spevacek, published Heritage
15. Sing a Song of Sixpence, 2-part, by Michael Mendoza, pub. Alliance #AMP0317
16. Operator, SA, arr. Jerry Nowak, pub. Hal Leonard 0002717
17. Bist du bei mir, 2-part, arr. Emily Crocker, pub. Hal Leonard #08703256
18. For the Beauty of the Earth, by John Rutter
19. Two Handel Classics, SA, arr. Doug and Jean Perry, pub. Shawnee
La Scia Che Pianga and Bel Piacere
20. El Condor Pasa, arr. Linda Spevacek
21. The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky - 2-part by Mary Lyn Lightfoot
22. River In Judea, arr. John Leavitt - 2-part
23. We Hasten With Eager Yet Faltering Footsteps - by J.S. Bach
24. Nigra Sum by Pablos Casals - has three parts at the end, otherwise, is
beautifully done in two parts.
25. Laudamus Te from Vivaldi's "Gloria" - two part treble
26. Riu, Riu Chiu, 2-part, arr. Audrey Snyder (there's also an arrangement
by Linda Spevacek available)
27. A Celtic Christmas - arr. Audrey Snyder - 2-part.
28. Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant - 2 part, arr. Audrey Snyder
29. A La Media Noche, 2-part, arr. Greg Gilpin
30. Cherry Riddle Song, 2-part by J. Herrington/S. Glick
31. Sound the Trumpet, SA, Purcell/Erb pub. Lawson -Gould #787
SSA/SSAA
1. Old Grandma, arr. Alice Parker, pub. Treble Cleff Music TC-117
2. Away From the Roll of the Sea, SSA arr.Loomer, pub. Intrada CP1001
3. In Time of Silver Rain by Audrey Snyder, pub. HL08730284
4. Lift the Wings, SSAA by Bill Whelan, pub. Shawnee B0586
5. Willow, Willow, SSA pub. Eugene Butler, pub. Richmond F-40
6. Cantique de Jean Racine -SSAA Faure/Rutter
7. Three Mountain Ballads-SSA by Ron Nelson
8. Rise Up My Love, My Fair One - by James McCrey, pub. National
9. The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky - SSA, by Mary Lightfoot
10. Hello, Girls SSA - by Lloyd Pfaustch
11. Reel a Bouche - by Malcom Balglish, pub. Plymouth
12. Ave Maria - SSSAAA by McIntyre
13. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - SSA - by John Rutter
14. Go Where I Send Thee - SSA by Caldwell/Ivory, pub. Earthsongs
15. A Girl's Garden - SSA - by Randall Thompson
SB - You never know when you will need this arrangement combination to
provide instant choral success for your singers!
1. Follow the River - arr. by Joseph Martin
Quality SAB literature - for when there aren't enough males to sing SATB
at the high school level:
1. The 10th volume of Monteverdi's literature for THREE voices - Scherzi
Musicali-contains a wonderful selection "O Rosetta, Che Rosetta". It is on
the out-of-print LP by the Waverly Consort. If you need a copy of this
recording, e-mail me, and I'll make you one and send it. Any work from this
volume would be appropriate for your students. I've a copy of the volume
I'll send to you if you need it.
2. Luci care, luci belle by Mozart, published by National Music, CMS 115
3. Consiglio amaroso by Barbara Strozzi, published by Broude Bros MW2.
(My young women were excited to sing a work by this female composer.)
4. Invitation to Madrigals, Book 1, SAB by Thurston Dart published by Galaxy #1.5106 ($6.95 ea)
5. There Is a Lady - SAB by David Eddleman, pub. C. Fischer #CM7999
6. Let's Hang On (Manhattan Transfer) SAB arr. R. Emerson, pub. Hal Leonard
08200487
7. The Gypsy Fiddler - SAB, by Ronald Melrose, pub. Carl Fischer CM8172 (This one is a gem!)
8. As Fair As Morn, SAB, Edited by John Haberlen, pub. Mark Foster MF338
9. Medley from "Guys & Dolls" SAB arr. Mac Huff, pub. Hal Leonard 08730135
10. A Red, Red Rose by Daniel Burton, pub. Kjos Ed. 5755
11. The Shepherd's Chorus - SAB, by Menotti, pub. G. Schirmer #10955
12. Blue Skies - SAB, arranged by Steve Zegree
13. Pastime with Good Company, pub. Shawnee D-428, by Henry VIII
14. As Fair As Morn, by John Wilbye, pub. Mark Foster MF338.
15. So Ben Mi Ch'ha Bon Tempo - SAB arr. Russell Robinson , pub. Shawnee D0549
16. Come, Sing a Joyful Song - arr. Liebergen, SAB, pub. Shawnee D0437 pub. Warner 0180FC3X
17. Homeward Bound by Jay Althouse
18. The Turtle Dove, arr. by Linda Spevacek
19. Mairi's Wedding – arr. Bob Chilcott
20. Jerusalem - arr. Carl Strommen, pub. Warner SV9604
21. The Gypsy Rover - Loughton/Steed pub. Warner SV9312
SATB - standard literature for choirs
(You might have your students look up on the internet and reproduce the
All-State choral lists-start with MENC on a search engine-Google).
1. Three Spanish Rennaissance Carols edited by Noah Greenberg, pub. National
a. Dadme Albricias, Hijos D'Eva (NYPMS.9)
b. E la don don, Verges Maria (N8)
c. Rui, Rui, Chui (N10)
2. Betelehemu arr. Barrington Brooks, pub. Lawson Gould #52744
3. I Love My Love by G. Holst, pub. G. Schirmer HL50299220
4. Il Est Bel a Bon, arr. J.S. Jackman, pub. Hinshaw HMC-1197
5. Mata Del Anima Sola, arr. Estevez, pub. Earthsongs, EARTS38
6. Dirait-on by Morten Lauridsen
7. Banguet Fugue - by John Rutter
8. Jabberwocky - by Sam Potte
9. Mon Coeur Se Recommande a Vou - by Lassus/Randolph
10. Shenandoah - SSAATTBB arr. by James Erb
11. Soldier Boy and Fiddler Man - both by John Rutter
12. Finale from "The Gondoliers" - arr. Clough-Leighter
13. Neighbor's Chorus - Offenbach
14. Ye Followers of the Lam - Edwin Ferguson
15. Walking On the Green Grass-Michael Hennagin
16. Elijah Rock - SSAATTBB by Moses Hogan
17. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - by John Gardner
18. Three Madrigals by Emma Lou Diemer
19. Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind, by John Rutter
20. Scottish folk melodies arranged by James Mulholland
-A Red, Red Rose
- Highland Mary
-Banks o' Doon
Denise Baccadutre
Moriarty High School Choral Director
Moriarty, New Mexico
bac@swcp.com
*************************************************
William T. McConnell, Jr., DMA
mcconnell@ionet.net
mcconnw@okstate.edu
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Home: 918-712-2535
Office: 405-744-3891
*************************************************
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