SKU: PR.312416820

UPC: 680160050376. 8.5 x 11 inches.

Chen Yi’s most performed and most beloved choral music is a series of 10 Chinese folk songs adapted for S.A.T.B. Chorus (published in 3 volumes: 312-41731, 312-41732, 312-41733). This special version is a setting of the familiar collection, adapted for children’s chorus and strings.
Remembering when I studied composition in the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, I learned to sing hundreds of Chinese folk songs collected from more than twenty provinces and fifty ethnic groups, and went to countryside to collect original folk music every year.  I got to know that the folk songs are a mirror of people’s daily lives, their thoughts and sentiments, local customs and manners.  They are sung in regional dialects and use the idioms of everyday speech with their particular intonations, accents and cadences.  This correlation between speech and music distinguishes folk songs of one region from another.  I learned all songs by heart and sang them back in the exams every week.  They melted in my blood and became my natural music language.  The more I walk into the music life,the more I treasure the rich culture I have learned from my homeland. When I became the Composer-in-Residence of Chanticleer and was invited to write the first work for its concert program, as well as another version for its Singing-In-The-Schools program, I decided to introduce A Set of Chinese Folk Songs to my American audiences, and add a new flavor to Chanticleer’srich repertoire.  The work includes ten folk songs, taken from eight provinces (Anhui, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Shanxi, Taiwan, Sinkiang, Jiangsu and Guizhou) and five ethnic groups (Han, Hasake, Uighur, Miao and Yi).  I arranged them for choirs (men’s or children’s chorus) with various combinations in voices, to be sung mostly in Chinese, some in English.   From the mysterious mountain songs originally sung in the open air with high and long notes that can carry over great distances, the sweet and delicate melodies of young love compared with nature, the humorous antiphony by little children, and the lively dancing tune by villagers, you may get an idea of various music styles in Chinese folk songs according to geographic, ethnic and linguistic differences, and appreciate the beauty of the Chinese folk music.  The pure choir sound and the sophisticated singing by Chanticleer, in terms of pitches, language and musical expressions, really attract and inspire me to create some more new works in the years to come.  In thisedition of A Set of Chinese Folk Songs for standard SATB mixed choir (with piano rehearsal score), I divided these ten songs into three volumes.  They are Fengyang Song, The Flowing Stream, Guessing, Thinking of My Darling, Mayila, Jasmine Flower, Riding on a Mule, Awariguli, Diu Diu Deng, andMountain Song and Dancing Tune.—Chen Yi.

SKU: GI.WW1815

UPC: 785147026167. English. Text Source: American Folk Song.

Old Joe Clark is a tremendously fun American folksong from the Appalachian region. Fantastic and fun vocal lines are supported by a lively, yet accessible, piano accompaniment. Add spoons and clapping/stomping for a great time! MP3 is SATB version.

SKU: AP.48451

UPC: 038081552743. English.

Generations of solo singers have cherished this classic art song, and now Alfred Music proudly presents the magnificent work designed for sophisticated choirs in an array of voicings. Schubert's original piano part provides the rich chromatic language from which the voice parts are extracted. Study the original German text using the provided IPA pronunciation guide, or choose the singable English translation.

About Alfred Choral Designs

The Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: GI.WW1877

UPC: 785147030669. English. Text Source: American Folk Song.

A lively song that is quintessentially American. Excellent vocal writing makes the arrangement both rowdy and well-constructed. Accessible to many choirs and a blast to learn and sing! Available here for TTBB voices.

SKU: GI.WW1759

UPC: 785147018766. English. Text Source: Traditional Song. Traditional Song.

This hilarious folk song is arranged here for TTBB choir and piano. The story of the lazy farmer and the consequences for his laziness will likely connect with your tenors and basses. Expertly arranged, making this a great teaching piece that works well in concert settings.

SKU: AP.38081

UPC: 038081425535. English. Francis Scott Key.

An exhilarating tour-de-force setting of our National Anthem. The sizable full orchestration, impressive piano accompaniment, and resounding choral parts emanate unwavering patriotism. Mark's arrangement works equally well in the concert hall, sanctuary, gym, or stadium.

About Alfred Choral Designs

The Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: AP.45389

UPC: 038081511290. English. Traditional Carols.

This majestic mash-up of Masters in This Hall and We Three Kings of Orient Are includes a joyful new text and optional parts for flute and hand drum. A lively 6/8 tempo and a buoyant minor tonality create a festive feel.

About Alfred Choral Designs

The Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: AP.46970

UPC: 038081536194. English. Traditional Spiritual.

Wow! A fast swing intro punctuated by piano, bass, drums, and finger snaps leads into a jazzy arrangement of the traditional spiritual unlike any you've ever heard. The excitement grabs your ear right away and doesn't let up, building to an impressive climax at the end. Add your own rhythm section (parts are free online) or our smokin' SoundTrax CD for extra effect.

About Alfred Choral Designs

The Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: CA.975100

ISBN 9790007186340. Language: Romanian/German/English.

Paparuda is based on a Romanian folk poem, a pagan rain dance song. During a period of heat and drought the rain goddess is implored to finally let it rain, to refresh people and to water the earth, so that it can bring forth fruit and flowers abundantly. The composer George Balint (b. 1961) has set this ritual to music for mixed choir, in an impressive piece with thrilling rhythm. As well as the Romanian text, a singable German and English version is included.