Text: William Makepeace Thackeray
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Difficulty level: 1-2
This set of mainly unison songs for young voices is a gift for a concert of music for upper voices. It is a substantial work taken as a whole but its individual movements are both short and straightforward in their various challenges. Britten wrote the work for the boys of his brother's preparatory school (age 7-13), Clive House, Prestatyn, in Wales to sing. However he encountered a problem with copyright over the use of the Lone Dog. He therefore wrote Begone, dull care to replace it. When these issues were resolved years later the song was included as an appendix item in the 1994 edition.
The real beauty of these songs is that Britten never writes down for the children. These are art songs in the best sense of the word and mix both dark and light humour with seriousness and romance to create a little world of changing scenes and emotions. The texts are, as always, carefully chosen to give Britten maximum variety of mood and to challenge and encourage the children's interest and involvement. The piano parts carry a lot of the responsibility for the creation of mood and atmosphere and ideally need a pianist of reasonable accomplishment to do them justice. In There was a monkey Britten writes an increasingly challenging part which is very effective in making the charged mood rise to its climax. However, he writes an easier alternative part which can be played if the pianist finds the other too difficult.
The mixture of texts gives Britten wonderful opportunities for word painting. The lively Begone, dull care which opens the work, the nonsense poem of A tragic story where a man wants his pigtail to hang in front so he can see it, the gentle story of the Cuckoo and his progress through the months of the year, the rather sobering story (especially in our post-fox hunting ban days) of the shooting of a fox by a farmer whose geese it has killed, the sublime A New Year's Carol - and so on, leading to the powerful four part canon of Old Abram Brown. These little pieces demonstrate so clearly Britten's genius - his ability to write really good music which is so recognisably his - without any feeling that he is making compromises for the young singers.
Duration: 23 minutes
Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011
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List: $3.95
From one of the highest-rated dramas ever on PBS, Victoria, this beautiful SATB arrangement captures the regal spirit of the British crown. Equally appropriate for worship, concert and weddings.
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List: $2.25
The sounds of salsa and rumba color this original setting of a Venezuelan children's poem. “Sassy” vocal lines are accompanied by piano with the steady pulse of claves and conga providing the heart beat of the piece. (5:00)
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List: $3.25
From The Requiem, Op. 9, by Maurice Duruflé this movement was performed in 2009 by the Texas All-State Choir. With most of the music in the requiem derived from chant, the work was written in memory of the composer's father.
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List: $2.15
A song of total praise to the Lamb, this text is a paraphrase from the book of Revelation. From moments of quiet reverence to all out praise, this anthem of devotion will make for a high time of worship. Orchestration includes score and parts for Flute 1, 2, Oboe, Clarinet 1, 2, Trumpet 1, 2, 3, Horn 1, 2 (Alto Sax), Trombone 1, 2 (Tenor Sax/Baritone TC), Trombone 3/Tuba, Percussion 1, 2, Drum Set, Harp, Rhythm, Violin 1, 2, Viola (Clarinet 3), Cello/Bassoon (Bass Clarinet), String Bass and Keyboard String Reduction. CD Accompaniment Trax also available. Duration: Approx. 6:00
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List: $24.95
You won't need 'luck' to guarantee success with this musical classic. Quickly learned, this arrangement is great for both men's and mixed groups. Performance Time: Approx. 2:20.Available separately: SATB, SAB, TTBB, ShowTrax CD and Instrumental Pak (includes parts for Trumpet 1 & 2, Tenor Sax, Trombone, Synthesizer, Guitar, Bass and Drums).
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List: $2.75
Written especially for Kate Hudson's character in the movie adaptation of the musical Nine, this is a dazzling production number celebrating the “La Dolce Vita” Italy of the 1960s! A fantastic choice for show choirs or to open a pop concert for choirs of all types. Available separately: SATB, SAB, SSA, ShowTrax CD. Combo parts available as a digital download (tpt 1-2, tsx, tbn 1-2, bsx, gtr, b, dm, perc). Duration 3:05.
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List: $26.99
This delightful artsong, attributed to Mozart, has been arranged for two-part treble voices with the original German and an English text by Audrey Snyder. Long a favorite of young solo singers, now perform this work with your young choirs as well. Available: 2-Part. Performance Time: Approx. 2:40.
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List: $2.65
