High School Repertoire
Kevin Tison & Laura Ramirez, High School Co-Chairs
Laetatus Sum (Johann Michael Haydn) – SATB / piano / a cappella
Theodore Presser Company
A fantastic introduction into Classical style…sophisticated yet very accessible for your ensembles. The ranges remain in a comfortable tessitura for each section and the piece can be performed either with keyboard accompaniment or a cappella. A joyful message of celebration, this piece brings vibrance to any concert program. GREAT as an opener!
LISTEN: https://youtu.be/PIERppFd6c8?si=pA60kG4sIYVyezAw
Mata Del Anima Sola (Antonio Estévez) – SATB or SSAA / acapella with soloist
earthsongs
“Tree of the lonely soul”…this piece is from a Venezuelan poem and is depictive of the Venezuelan plains. It is very folksy and opens in a haunting, chant-like solo that then bursts into lively, syncopated rhythms. A wonderful opportunity to showcase one of your tenor soloists at the beginning of the piece. It is rhythmically challenging and will provide some great teaching points on rhythmic clarity, accentuation and energetic vocalisation. Your choir will come alive on this piece! Perhaps the most striking part is a very lush and gorgeous “B” section which is in complete contrast to the exciting “A” section. A tremendous showstopper for more advanced high school choirs.
LISTEN: https://youtu.be/4rYn6mIfSzU?si=QaJFslkfUM6kFNz9
I Will Be a Child of Peace (Elaine Hagenberg) – SATB / SSAA / TTBB piano
Beckenhorst Press
This Shaker prayer is quintessential Hagenberg style with long, flowing lyrical lines. The divisi in the piece is not complex and provides great warmth and support to the text. Choirs will enjoy working on long and expressive phrasing…with wonderful teaching opportunities for breath control and legato singing. Simple harmonies allow for great attention to intonation, tone production and vowel unification. The text is sacred but would work well in both secular or sacred contexts due to such a powerful, timely and universal message of peace and purity. Once again, another truly meaningful and uplifting piece from composer Elaine Hagenberg.
LISTEN: https://youtu.be/XroUGSdwbBY?si=sLZaux9pPFsPe3LH
Developing Ensembles (compiled by Laura Ramirez)