“Al Shlosha D’varim” for SATB

“The world is sustained by three things: by truth, by justice, and by peace.”

These wise words have probably been sung millions of times over in Al Shlosha D’varim, a long-time standard in 2-part choral repertoire.  With the recent publication of a brand-new SATB voicing, mixed choirs can now experience this masterpiece.  Using the universal language of music, Al Shlosha D’varim conveys an important and universal theme through its beautiful simplicity.  Appropriate for a many performance occasions, it could be particularly effective on a winter/holiday concert – and it’s straight-forward enough to be learned quickly!  Click here to hear a sample recording of the wonderful new voicing, or contact us for more information.

Who’s in charge?!

Stanton’s gets hundreds, if not thousands of new pieces of music each year.  We make every attempt to look through them all to determine whether or not we want to stock them in any kind of quantity. Every now and then a publisher will do something that makes us wonder, “What were they thinking?”

One company who had published a “pocket sized” drum rudiment dictionary (about 3 inches wide) came out with a new edition they proudly touted as “now available with a CD.”  The CD, of course, sticks out of the book by at least an inch, just begging to be snapped off.  Good packaging, folks!

Scholarly prose in the preface of some pieces lends an air of legitimacy, but sometimes you have to wonder at some of the logic.  One reads, “The four sonatas Handel wrote for the treble (today’s alto) recorder and figured bass are eminently suitable for the oboe.”  That sounds perfectly legitimate, but the next few lines describe how they are “eminently suitable.”  The paragraph continues, “…being in the wrong range for the oboe (consistently too high for practical purposes and for comfort), they have to be transposed a fourth lower.  The problem of phrases too long to be comfortable for the oboist was solved by transferring small segments of the solo line into the accompaniment.”  So basically, somebody had to totally rewrite the pieces to make them “eminently suitable.”  Thankfully, they do work well for oboe after all that work and have become staples of oboe literature, but a little rewriting of the preface may be in order for accuracy’s sake!

Winter Concert Choices for SAB Choirs

Finding appropriate music for 8th, 9th and 10th grade singers can be a challenge – “3-part mixed” voicings often aren’t appropriate for the boys’ developing ranges, and much of the SAB literature out there sometimes seems like just “watered down SATB.”  It can be difficult to find repertoire with the right level of difficulty for the singers without it being too cheesy, too simplified or too complicated.  For your holiday concert this year, try one of these wonderful octavos with your choir; both are thoughtfully and skillfully crafted specifically for the SAB choir:

Willow Carol by Bruce Campbell takes it’s text from Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows,” in which the field mice rejoice that the miracle of the Christ Child was first witnessed by animals in the stable.  The joyful, singable melody will immediately capture your heart.

It’s Time for Caroling is a wonderfully sophisticated light-concert choice.  By creatively weaving familiar Christmas tunes through a charming narrative about caroling, Valerie Showers Crescenz has crafted a fresh and unique secular piece for the SAB choir.

If you’re looking for more winter and holiday concert recommendations for your SAB choir, please contact us!

Wind Band Invitational and New Music Reading Session

There’s a bite in the air and the leaves are changing colors and dropping from the trees. It’s time for the Eighth Annual 2009 New Concert Band Reading Clinic! This extremely popular clinic weekend, especially helpful for 1st and 2nd year teachers, allows participants to have a “hands on” experience with the latest and best new music. The featured composer/director this year is Ray Cramer, famed musician, band pedagogue and director emeritus of Indiana University. Taking place on Friday and Saturday, November 13-14, at Capital University in Columbus, OH. Make your plans now to attend. Navigate to the clinic website for details.

GLEE Update

Here in the choral department at Stanton’s Sheet Music, our phones are ringing off the hook with requests for choral music from the Fox hit show Glee!  So far (seven episodes into the season), the songs from the show available for choirs are: Don’t Stop Believin’ (originally recorded by Journey) and Rehab (by Amy Winehouse – while the message of the song is pretty inappropriate for high school singers, it sure is a catchy tune!).  And coming soon: Can’t Fight This Feeling (sung by Finn in the pilot) and I Say a Little Prayer (the Cheerio’s glee club audition song in episode 2).

Some other songs heard on the show are available in choral arrangements, though these are not the exact arrangements featured.  These include: Mister Cellophane, On My Own, Respect, Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat, Where Is Love?, Mercy, Taking Chances, Tonight, Cabaret, Walking on Sunshine, and from last night’s episode, Keep Holding On.

Songs offered for soloists are available from such diverse artists as Beyonce (Single Ladies, Halo), Usher (Confessions Part II), Katy Perry (I Kissed a Girl), Celine Dion (Taking Chances), Kanye West (Gold Digger), Carrie Underwood (Last Name), Salt-n-Pepa (Push It), Rihanna (Take a Bow), Jazmine Sullivan (Bust Your Windows), Heart (Alone), Bon Jovi (It’s My Life), and Queen (Somebody to Love).  In last night’s episode, we also heard No Air (by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown).

While not all of the music featured on the show is available for choirs, we’re hopeful that publishers will continue producing new arrangements (we’re especially hoping for an arrangement of Queen’s Somebody to Love or Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life!).  For more information, check out our previous blog about music from “Glee,” or contact us.

UPDATE (11/3/2009) – Somebody to Love, as performed on “Glee,” is now available for choirs!  Don’t miss it!

It’s Christmas Around the World!

Looking for a way to liven up your holiday choral concert?  Try one of these great arrangements, and infuse your performance with musical flavor from all around the world!

Spanish Christmas carols, or villancicos, are festive in mood and influenced by the popular culture of Spain and the Castilian region.  Try Spanish Allelu, Fum Fum Fum, Three Spanish Christmas Carols of the 16th Century, or long-time favorite, Riu Riu Chiu.

Christmas carols from France are known for their dance-like quality, and many have become standards in the American carol repertoire.  Take a look at Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella, La Bonne Nouvelle for women’s voices, or this incredibly fresh and original arrangement of Il est ne.

Including carols and Christmas songs from Africa can lend a great world-music touch to your concert.  Sing We All Noel intermingles with “Siyahamba” in this setting for young choirs.  Combined groups will excel with Hope for Resolution, which partners the chant “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” with a South African freedom song.  It’s inspirational and unforgettable!

Your elementary students will enjoy the collection It’s Christmas Everywhere!  Exploring carols and traditions from Germany, Japan, Australia, Africa, Mexico, Canada, and Spain, each song can be performed individually, or use the optional narration to combine them into a 25-30 minute program.  Both familiar and lesser-known carols are included, as well as an upbeat theme song which incorporates holiday greetings in six languages.  The book is fully reproducible, and includes a handy performance/accompaniment CD.

Still want more?  Try Kling Glockchen (from Germany), Huron Carol (from Canada), Jamaican Noel (from…well, you know), or Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (from Poland).

For more exciting winter concert repertoire from around the world, please contact us!

Make your orchestra “Trans-Siberian!”

STRING TEACHERS!  What could be more hip than your students playing music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on your holiday concert?  Don’t miss out on getting your copy of WIZARDS IN WINTER, arranged for String Orchestra by Bob Phillips. Give a listen to it at the Stanton’s Listening Lab to hear how cool it is–it will really pep up your program!  You can order online, call to order at 1-800-42-MUSIC, FAX your order to 1-614-224-5929 or send us an order by mail at Stanton’s Sheet Music, 330 South Fourth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.  Your students will thank you for it!

“Christmas Lullaby” by Jason Robert Brown

Fans of Jason Robert Brown will be thrilled to find his music now appearing in choral repertoire.  Christmas Lullaby is from the memorable 1995 theatrical revue and album Songs for a New World, which put Brown on the musical map.  This exquisite choral is a reflection on the blessing of Mary and the miracle within us all.  It’s particularly powerful in the SSA voicing – “And I will be like Mother Mary with a blessing in my soul and the future of the world inside of me…”

Also available from Brown for choirs is Brand New You, from his new musical 13.  Packed with infectious energy, this Broadway powerhouse absolutely rocks with youthful spirit and humor!  A fantastic concert closer.

Contact us for more terrific recommendations for your choir!

Songs Featured in the Movie FAME

Now in theaters, the new reinvention of the original Oscar-winning hit film Fame is delighting audiences across the country.  The movie follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts.  If you’re looking to explore the inspiring music from the film, check out these great choral arrangements:

The memorable and moving power ballad Out Here On My Own captures the energy and drive of the young students in the film. 

George Gershwin’s classic song Someone to Watch Over Me is given a purely choral approach in this arrangement, and includes the poignant verse which introduces the song’s beautifully melodic chorus.

Opening with an optional soprano solo, You Made Me Love You is arranged in an easy, light swing style.  With its logical voice-leading and a full choral sound, this arrangement can be sung by any size group.

And of course, the title song Fame is an iconic expression of the passion of young performers.  This fresh new arrangement will continue to inspire performers of any age!

Contact us for more great suggestions!

Singer’s Library of Musical Theatre

If you or your students routinely perform songs from the Broadway repertoire, these books are for you!  Each book in the series of Singer’s Library of Musical Theatre  includes 2 CD’s of recorded piano accompaniment.
There are 2 volumes in each voice range: Soprano, Mezzo/Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
The fun thing about these books is the fact that the songs are in the same keys as in the original Broadway shows. The shows cover a wide time period, from the 1885 “Mikado”, to more recent shows like the Broadway production of  “Disney’s ” Beauty and the Beast”  and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. For more  information concerning these products please check our website at stantons.com.