FA ’20: MUED 376: Choral Music, Methods and Materials

Dr. van der Vat-Chromy

22M. Decolonized Concert Programming Assignment

 This assignment is the opportunity to design a major seasonal

concert program in an decolonized format that will include three/four
different ensembles of different vocal settings.  

 Each program must include 10-12 pieces, varying in voicing, style,

and difficulty. For example, plan to program 3 pieces for your SATB
choir, 3 for your TTB Ensemble, 2 for your Children’s Choir, 3 for
your Treble Choir (s) and a combined Finale, and maybe even a
Combined Opener?!

For example, you may choose from:

K-12 choirs:   #BLM/Activism/Fall/Winter/Spring/Graduation Concert  

Church choirs: Advent/Easter Program, etc.
Grades 6 -12: #BLM/Activism/Cabaret/MUTH/Opera (“An Evening of Opera”)

 Please give your concert a name or a theme, which will serve as the
organizing principal for your concert.  

 For each selection, please enter the necessary information into the

template found on the next page, re-titling “Piece 1”,  “Piece 2”, etc.
as you proceed.

 After completing your assignment, please save your document as a

.pdf, and send it to everyone in the class. In this way, we will have 17
concert programs in our files!
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MUED 376: Choral Music, Methods and Materials
Concert Programming Assignment

Conductor Name: Mr. Brandon Morris

Date: 12/10/20

Concert Theme/Title: Humility

To be performed by: The Treble Makers (Beginning SA), The Mandalorians

(Beginning TB), The Extraterrestrials (SATB Auditioned), Light of Hope (SATB
Show Choir Auditioned)

Concert Rationale: I chose this theme because our world needs to have more humility
within it, and the best way to showcase this message is through music.

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
(List pieces, composers, accompanists, soloists and instrumentalists as needed)

TITLE Composer/dates

The Treble Makers

1. The Seal Lullaby Eric Whitacre

2. Love Is A Star Rollo Dilworth

The Mandalorians

3. Fields of Gold Ethan Sperry

4. When Dawn Shines Mishall Surti

The Extraterrestrials

5. Where Your Bare Foot Walks David N. Childs

6. This Marriage Eric Whitacre

7. Omnia Sol Randall Stroope

Light of Hope

8. Need You Now Greg Gilpin

9. Somebody to Love Adam Anders & Tim Davis

10. Human Audrey Snyder

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PIECE #1
Title The Seal Lullaby
Composer Eric Whitacre
Arranger Eric Whitacre
Voicing SSA & Piano
Length 4:10
Time period/genre/style 21st Century, Contemporary Choral Music
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Piano Accompaniment
Difficulty level & age level Medium Difficulty, High School
Key(s) Db Major
Meter(s) Simple Triple Meter (3/4)
Publisher and Publisher # Hal Leonard Corporation
Cost per octavo $2.25
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below:

Soprano 1: Ab3 – F5
Soprano 2: Ab3 – Db5
Alto: F3 – Ab4

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

The Seal Lullaby is a poem based off of a classic animated film created by Stephan Schwartz to
mimic something Disney-esque. It is comprised of an ABA format with the A sections being
entirely sung with “oohs” with the B section being the entire text of the poem. It was originally
also composed for the Lawrence Children’s Choir and their conductor Janeal Krehbiel. Students
have enjoyed this piece because of the familiarity this piece brings from Disney.

PIECE #2
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Title Love is a Star
Composer Rollo Dilworth
Arranger Rollo Dilworth
Voicing SSA with piano
Length 3:40
Time period/genre/style 21st Contemporary
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) SSA with piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium Level, High School
Key(s) Db Major
Meter(s) Compound Duple Meter (6/8)
Publisher and Publisher # Hal Leonard Corp.
Cost per octavo $1.95
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: TBA

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

Known as a light gospel-style original by Rollo Dilworth who was inspired from a poem
by Paul Laurence Dunbar. The text visualizes for the audience about falling in love with
the night sky in a gospel-esque perception. Women’s choirs will absolutely fall in love
with this piece.
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PIECE #3
Title Fields of Gold
Composer Sting
Arranger Ethan Sperry
Voicing TTBB with piano
Length 3:56
Time period/genre/style 21st Pop
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) TTBB with piano
Difficulty level & age level Easy Level, High School
Key(s) D Major
Meter(s) Simple Quadruple (4/4)
Publisher and Publisher # Hal Leonard Corp.
Cost per octavo $2.25
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: TBA

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

This song is all about love! Sting’s most classic piece turns into a 4-part arrangement
opening with a solo and duet. Men’s choirs of all ages will enjoy this extravagant piece.
The piece features an ABA format with the B section being up-tempo while the A
sections being freer and more expressive.
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PIECE #4
Title When Dawn Shines
Composer Mishaal Surti
Arranger Mishaal Surti
Voicing TTBB with piano
Length 2:06
Time period/genre/style 21st Contemporary
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) TTBB with piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium level, High School
Key(s) Eb Major
Meter(s) Simple Quadruple (4/4)
Publisher and Publisher # Cypress Choral Music
Cost per octavo $2.75
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: TBA

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

This piece signifies hope and inspiration by Mishaal Surti. The text was written by the
Canadian poet Justin Zadorsky. Male choruses will love this moving addition within
their concert program. “When the sun shines, my spirit will renew its gladness”
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PIECE #5
Title Where Your Bare Foot Walks
Composer David N. Childs
Arranger David N. Childs
Voicing SATB with piano
Length 5:04
Time period/genre/style 21st Contemporary
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) Choir with piano
Difficulty level & age level Medium Difficulty, High School
Key(s) Eb Major with emphasis in Db Major, E Major
Meter(s) Mostly Simple Quadruple (4/4), Some Simple Triple
(3/4)
Publisher and Publisher # Walton Music
Cost per octavo $2.35
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below:

Soprano: Bb3 – Ab5
Alto: G3 – Eb5
Tenor: Bb2 – Eb4
Bass: Eb2 – F4

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

The text to this piece is a poem translation from The Soul of Rumi written by Sufi Rumi,
comprised of beautiful imagery. It was also composed for David’s wife Lesley who he
loves very much. When listening to this piece, there are a lot of places where text
painting occurs to showcase the imagery David wanted us to visualize.
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PIECE #6
Title This Marriage
Composer Eric Whitacre
Arranger Eric Whitacre
Voicing SATB a cappella
Length 3:38
Time period/genre/style 21st Contemporary
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) A cappella
Difficulty level & age level High Difficulty, High School
Key(s) E Major with emphasis of F# Major
Meter(s) No meter
Publisher and Publisher # Hal Leonard Corp.
Cost per octavo $1.95
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below:

Soprano: C#4 – E5
Alto: A3 – C#5
Tenor: E3 – G#4
Bass: A2 – C#4

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

The use of having no meter showcases the essence of how love is timeless and flows
freely. The text is a translation from the Sufi poet Jalal al-Din Rumi in his poem Love is
a Stranger. This is Eric Whitacre’s first-ever 4-part arrangement that is a cappella.
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PIECE #7
Title Omnia Sol
Composer Randall Stroope
Arranger Randall Stroope
Voicing SATB with piano
Length 5:18
Time period/genre/style 21st Contemporary
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) SATB with piano
Difficulty level & age level Easy Level, High School
Key(s) Eb Major
Meter(s) Simple Quadruple Meter (4/4)
Publisher and Publisher # Heritage Music Press
Cost per octavo $2.20
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below: TBA

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

A Latin piece by Randall Stroope comes from a verse in Carmina Burana. This
showcases the human need of love and commitment from one another because we as
human beings are touched by these emotions. All choirs will be inspired and love this
piece within their choral literature.
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PIECE #8
Title Need You Now
Composer Lady Antebellum
Arranger Greg Gilpin
Voicing SATB with piano
Length 3:48
Time period/genre/style 21st Country
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) SATB with piano
Difficulty level & age level Easy Level, High School
Key(s) E Major
Meter(s) Simple Quadruple Meter (4/4)
Publisher and Publisher # Alfred Music Publications
Cost per octavo $1.90
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below:

Soprano: B3 – B4
Alto: B3 – A4
Tenor: D#3 – D#4
Bass: D#3 – D#4

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

Need You Now is one of Lady Antebellum’s biggest hits and won the 2011 Grammy
Award for Song of the Year. It also won many awards at the 45th Country Music Awards.
The main message that I want to get through with this song is the fact that even in the
darkest times, having human companionship is crucial.
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PIECE #9
Title Somebody to Love
Composer Queen (Freddie Mercury)
Arranger Adam Anders & Tim Davis
Voicing SAB with piano, Male and Female solos
Length 4:44
Time period/genre/style 20th Pop
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) SAB with piano & optional instrumental
accompaniment, Male and Female solos
Difficulty level & age level Medium Level, High School
Key(s) Ab Major
Meter(s) Begins Simple Quadruple (4/4) then transitions to a
Compound Quadruple (12/8)
Publisher and Publisher # Hal Leonard Corp.
Cost per octavo $2.25
Miscellaneous This arrangement is used in the TV series Glee

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below:

Sopranos: Eb4 – F5
Altos: Bb3 – Ab4
Basses: G3 – Eb4

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

Somebody to Love is one of Queen’s biggest hits that kids of all ages can relate to. This
specific arrangement was used in the TV series Glee that aired on Fox during the show’s
first season when Finn, Rachel, and other members of the Glee club were looking for
pieces to sing for Sectionals. This piece really showcases the raw emotion the text brings
to the meaning of finding that perfect somebody to love.
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PIECE #10
Title Human
Composer Christina Perri
Arranger Audrey Snyder
Voicing SATB with piano
Length 4:19
Time period/genre/style 21st Pop
Sacred/secular Secular
Forces (a cappella, instruments?) SATB with piano
Difficulty level & age level Easy Level, High School
Key(s) Bb Major
Meter(s) Cut time (2/2)
Publisher and Publisher # Hal Leonard Corp.
Cost per octavo $1.95
Miscellaneous N/A

Ranges: Please list or notate on the staff below:

Sopranos: F4 – Eb5
Altos: G3 – D5
Tenors: F3 – F4
Basses: Eb3 – Bb3

Annotated discussion, program notes, and/or important information for consideration:

This ballad by Christina Perri has a very powerful dramatic message with emotion. Kids
of all ages love this piece and feel a sense of significance with it. This piece teaches
students that we aren’t always going to be perfect and that we need to appreciate
ourselves for who we are.