Oh Happy Day (Chorus SATB)

SKU: JK.00988

Isaiah 54:13, Psalm 149:1-2.

Anthem for mixed chorus (SATB) and piano, praising God for the blessings of a happy, faith-filled home.
From homes of Saints glad songs arise,
For there the Lord is King,
There faith is learned, and prayers ascend,
The Spirit's peace to bring.
Composer: G. William Richards
Arranger: Betsy Lee Bailey
Lyricists: Vernald W. Johns, additional verse by Betsy Lee Bailey
Difficulty: Medium-difficult (multimetric)
Performance time: 2:30
Reference: Isaiah 54:13, Psalm 149:1-2.

SKU: BR.CHB-5381-00

ISBN 9790004413821. 7.5 x 10.5 inches. English.

As director of the Bavarian Radio Choir, Howard Arman has been actively engaged with international Christmas carols through various Christmas-related CD productions in the past years. This has resulted in a number of original arrangements for four- to eight-part mixed choir a cappella, shedding new light on well-known classics such as O du frohliche [O, you joyful], Stille Nacht [Silent Night] and Lasst uns froh und munter sein [Let us be happy and cheerful]. The first volume includes five Christmas carols from the German-speaking regions. They range from simple but harmonically intriguing settings such as Lieb Nachtigall, wach auf [Dear nightingale, wake up] to eight-part sound paintings with bell-like chimes as in O du frohliche and classical double choir settings such as Resonet in laudibus. The second volume includes five Christmas spirituals with English texts, forming a contrast to the solemn and festive character of the first. The choir can prove its swing and jazz qualities here; the stirring arrangements are a gain for classical Christmas concerts, too. Following the tradition of the spiritual, some settings also require soloists, which can, however, also be recruited from the choir if adequate singers are available. The first piece combines the spirituals It's a Birthday and Wasn't That a Mighty Day to form a medley, Ain't That a Rockin' gives a moment of tranquility before the likewise rousing spirituals Mary Had a Baby and Little David conclude the volume. In both volumes, Howard Arman provides a short preface in German and English, explaining the background of each piece and giving advice on performance.

SKU: BR.CHB-5380-00

ISBN 9790004413814. 7.5 x 10.5 inches. German / Latin.

As director of the Bavarian Radio Choir, Howard Arman has been actively engaged with international Christmas carols through various Christmas-related CD productions in the past years. This has resulted in a number of original arrangements for four- to eight-part mixed choir a cappella, shedding new light on well-known classics such as O du frohliche [O, you joyful], Stille Nacht [Silent Night] and Lasst uns froh und munter sein [Let us be happy and cheerful]. The first volume includes five Christmas carols from the German-speaking regions. They range from simple but harmonically intriguing settings such as Lieb Nachtigall, wach auf [Dear nightingale, wake up] to eight-part sound paintings with bell-like chimes as in O du frohliche and classical double choir settings such as Resonet in laudibus. The second volume includes five Christmas spirituals with English texts, forming a contrast to the solemn and festive character of the first. The choir can prove its swing and jazz qualities here; the stirring arrangements are a gain for classical Christmas concerts, too. Following the tradition of the spiritual, some settings also require soloists, which can, however, also be recruited from the choir if adequate singers are available. The first piece combines the spirituals It's a Birthday and Wasn't That a Mighty Day to form a medley, Ain't That a Rockin' gives a moment of tranquility before the likewise rousing spirituals Mary Had a Baby and Little David conclude the volume. In both volumes, Howard Arman provides a short preface in German and English, explaining the background of each piece and giving advice on performance.

SKU: ST.Y280

ISBN 9790220223051.

1. Age and Youth (words by William Shakespeare)
2. Sun and Shadow (words by Thomas Campion)

For amateur SATB chorus with divisions, Opposites by Rhian Samuel pairs a well-known poem by Shakespeare with a less familiar one by his contemporary, the lute-song composer Thomas Campion.

In Shakespeare's much anthologised 'Crabbed Age and Youth' the decay of the former and vigour of the latter inspire contrasts of texture, register and dynamics to make a simple yet effective form culminating in the defiant tutti of 'Age, I do defy thee!'

A meditation on the fruitless pursuit of passion, Campion's 'Follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow' alternates a lilting refrain with dueting soprano and alto, and tenor and bass.

Lasting around ten minutes, the two items would make an attractive and complementary element in any programme that explored the richness of English verse in choral song, whether in classical, romantic or contemporary repertoire.

SKU: XC.DJS2203

9 x 6 inches.

A significant and distinctive arrangement of a joyous song. Learn this and your singers will repeat this over and over again. This one is lots of fun to learn and sing.

SKU: AP.51231

UPC: 038081582689. English.

Most notably performed by Liza Minnelli, this Kander & Ebb classic returned to Broadway in the musical New York, New York. Mark's razzmatazz arrangement is a bonafide blockbuster, with showbiz sonorities, hard-hitting swing feel, and full-throttle emotions at the spotlight chorus. Sometimes you're happy, and sometimes you're sad, but the world goes round.

About Alfred Pop Choral Series

The Alfred Pop Series features outstanding arrangements of songs from the popular music genre. These publications provide exciting, contemporary, and educationally-sound arrangements for singers of all ages, from elementary through high school, to college and adult choirs.

SKU: MA.EMR-13414

Red River Valley / Go Down Moses / Glory Hallelujah / Aura Lee / Oh Happy Day.