The music for this setting of Teasdale's poem highlights the tension in the text between the beauty of nature and the violence human beings inflict on themselves. In the closing measures of the piece, the composer restates the opening line of the text to reinforce the cyclical patterns in nature: despite humanity's penchant toward violence, the rain will come and spring will begin again.
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List: $2.10
This tender ballad from pop superstar Ed Sheeran is an ode to love. This delicate and sensitive arrangement clearly conveys the deep love that we all seek in our lives.
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List: $2.15
Composer Rupert Lang has created a beautiful mediative and reflective work based on an Ute Nation prayer. From the earth we can learn how to live our lives with wisdom. “Earth, teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory. Earth, teach me freedom as the eagle which soars in the sky. Earth, teach me.” Duration: 7:45.
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List: $2.65
The well-loved carol receives a creative and sparkling treatment in this programmable and accessible setting for both school and church groups.
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List: $2.75
If your singers are clamoring for an upbeat pop tune from this century, you can't go wrong with Maroon 5's megahit “This Love.” Arranged in the collegiate a cappella style but not too difficult for high school groups.Available separately: SATB a cappella and TTBB a cappella.
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List: $2.25
New to the film adaptation of Les Misérables is this intimate song, sung by Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) after he rescues the little girl Cosette and experiences for the first time in his life feelings of love. A beautiful and tender moment!
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List: $1.95
An exquisite new musical setting! Beautiful countermelody and lyrical piano writing enhance a wonderfully refreshing new text! Excellent for all ages, school and church! Available: SATB. Performance Time: Approx. 3:30.
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List: $2.65
Set in a happy Latin groove, this holiday classic from Mame will put everyone in the spirit of the season! Opening with a sizzling brass intro, the vocals present the familiar tune with solid harmonies and rhythmic verve. It transitions seamlessly into a joyful “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” for a perfect close to your concert! Score and parts (tpt 1-2, asx, tsx, tbn 1-2, bsx, pno, gtr, b, dm) available as a CD-ROM and as a digital download.
ScorePlay - click to view score with recording.
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List: $2.15
This Filipino or Visayan folk song is about joy and love. George Hernandez, conductor of the Saringhimig Singers from San Francisco has captured the native flavor in this rousing arrangement. Selected for the Ron Kean Multicultural series, high school and college choirs will love it. Also available in SATB, divisi, P1286. Medium difficulty.
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List: $3.10
This new setting of the Welsh melody used in the motion picture Empire of the Sun works well with piano or harp accompaniment. The carol-like text also makes it a perfect selection for Christmas.
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List: $2.95
Using the hymntune Duke Street (“Jesus Shall Reign”), Jan Sanborn has developed a marvelous and majestic anthem for the Easter service. Brass parts are also available separately. The exalted and regal qualities that befit an Easter service have been masterfully captured in this powerful setting. Easy to medium. Available: SATB, Instrumental Pak.
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List: $18.00
Text: attributed to St. Columba (in Latin)
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Difficulty level: 2
This short work was commissioned for the 1400th anniversary of the voyage Columba made from Ireland to the island of Iona. Rather bizarrely, the first performance was given outdoors at Churchill, Co. Donegal where St. Columba was said to have preached and was apparently inaudible because of the strength of the wind!
The anthem is wonderfully effective and is a very good example of Britten
s ability to create an original canvas within the traditions of the Anglican Church. The piece is all about the fire in Columbas belly for his missionary task. The words are almost a variation on the Dies Irae: 'King of Kings and Lord most high, his day of judgement comes near, Day of wrath and vengeance, Day of shadows and dark clouds...' etc. Britten brilliantly sets the mood with a disturbing pedal ostinato which keeps returning throughout the piece sometimes in the manuals and often in the pedals. The broad unison melody which begins the anthem returns at the end briefly as a canon between sopranos/tenors and altos/basses before closing, without slowing down, with two almost menacing, but ever-quietening repetitions of the word 'domini'.
Don't let the brevity of this work put you off from programming it. In fact, Britten wrote four 'Hymns' (Virgin/St. Peter/St. Columba/St. Cecilia) which work very well together in a concert and around which an imaginative programme can be built. Its brevity also makes it either suitable as an introit for a service Mixed Voices with keyboard commemorating Columba, or perhaps, at All Souls or even Remembrance. It would serve equally as an anthem.
In performance it is Britten's direction that it should be sung 'with fire' which should underpin the interpretation. As always, making the most of dynamic variation will give the work some of its colour. The wonderful moment when, after a diminuendo, the first theme returns pianissimo and with a crescendo (...maeroris ac tristitiae, Regis regum rectissimi,) where the words 'King of Kings' are uttered with hushed awe needs special care and thought about tone quality.
Duration: 3 minutes
Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011
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List: $5.95
Much unison and two-part singing make this praise anthem easy to learn and accessible to choirs and ensembles of any size. Inspired by a devotional by Charles Spurgeon, the premise of All of These is that all of God's greatest attributes – grace, mercy, and wisdom – are available to us as God's children. We are encouraged to accept and use these gifts for God's glory and to do God's will, and this grateful praise song expresses our deepest desire to do just that. Dramatic and expressive, tender, yet powerful. This anthem is suitable for general worship use throughout the year.
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List: $2.65