Micah Logan

MUED 337
Dr. Evans
Choral Literature Review

Choral Literature Annotation Checklist

Level Historical
# Name of Work & Composer/Arranger Voicing
Period/Genre

1 Elementary World Music Ning Wendete arr. Greg Gilpin 2- Part

2 Elementary Spiritual This Little Light of Mine arr. Ken Berg Unison

3 Elementary Traditional Dona Nobis Pacem arr. Mary Lynn Lightfoot 2-Part

4 Elementary Folk Song Charlotte-Town arr. Emily Crocker 2-Part

We’re All in This Together Matthew Gerald/Robbie

5 Elementary Pop 2-Part
Nevill
Middle Pong Pong Piyangaw arr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-
6 World Music SSA
School Roldan
Middle
7 Baroque Cantante Domino arr. Jerry Estes 3-Part
School
Middle
8 Octavo Homeward Bound Marta Keen/Jay Althouse SAB
School
Middle
9 Folk Song Loch Lomond arr. Ashley Nelson SSA/SAB
School
Middle Happy Together Garry Bonner & Alan Gordon/Kirby 3-Part
10 Pop
School Shaw Mixed
High
11 World Music Kpanlongo arr. Derek Bermal SSATBB
School
High
12 Pop/Jazz I Wish Stevie Wonder/Roger Emerson SATBB
School
High
13 Secular Come to the Music arr. Joseph M. Martin SATB
School
High Kyrie from Mass in G, D. 167 Franz Schubert/John
14 Mass SATB
School Leavitt
High
15 Octavo Gloria Deo arr. Jay Althouse SATB
School
• Historical Periods or Genre: HP = Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic,
Twentieth Century, Contemporary; Genre = jazz, show choir, pop, world music

Logan 1
 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: 2-PART

WORLD MUSIC

Ning Wendete
Greg Gilpin. Two-part acapella and small rhythmic accompaniment. Shawnee Press 10503347E.
Kenyan Folk Song. Choral Octavo. Key of A major. 2/4 meter, rhythmic with movement tempo
marking (quarter note equals 104). Rhythmic notation calls for a shaker, hand claps, and
instruments.

Pedagogical Goals
• Steady, rhythmic flow of the piece.
• Intonation – do not fall flat since the melody stays consistent.
• Phrasing – ensure that words do not become ‘choppy’
Challenges
• Diction – words must be pronounced clearly and correctly.
• Part independence – at times, the two parts being sung are completely different.

Difficulty Level for Choir: medium-easy

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: UNISON

SPIRITUALS

This Little Light of Mine

Ken Berg. Unison with cello and optional piano accompaniment. Colla Voce Music Inc. 20-96460.
Traditional Spiritual. ABA. Key of D major. 4/4 meter, no tempo marking, tempo up to
conductor.

Pedagogical Goals
• Diction – let the constantans shine!
• Flow of the piece – do not let the energy die.
• Phrasing
Challenges
• Breath support during long phrases
• Unison singing – vowel unification

Difficulty Level for Choir: easy

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: 2-PART

TRADITIONAL

Dona Nobis Pacem

Mary Lynn Lightfoot. Two part with piano accompaniment. Heritage Music Press 15/1775H.

Logan 2
 Traditional Latin. Octavo. Key of G major. 4/4 meter, expressively tempo marking (quarter
note=ca. 92.

Pedagogical Goals
• Part independence
• Light legato phrases
• Dynamic variation
Challenges
• Intonation: measure 30, for example. Part I comes in on E and Part II on C. Make sure that the
interval is distinctive.
• Try to eliminate scooping from under the pitch.

Difficulty Level for Choir: easy

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: 2-PART

FOLK SONG

Charlotte-Town
Emily Crocker. Two-part with piano accompaniment. Hal Leonard Corporation. 47103022.
Folk Song. ABA. Key of F major modulates to G major. Cut time. Lively tempo marking (half
note equals 104).

Pedagogical Goals
• Entrances – make sure each part enters at the appropriate time.
• Intonation for unison passages
• Dynamic contrast
Challenges
• Part independence – although the parts are very similar, part I & II may confuse each other at
times.
• Tempo – make sure that the choir does not rush.

Difficulty Level for Choir: easy

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: 2-PART

POP

We’re All in This Together

Matthew Gerald/Robbie Nevill. Two-part with piano accompaniment. Hal Leonard Corporation.
47103022.
From the Disney Channel Movie “High School Musical. Verse/Chorus. Key of G major
modulates to Eb major then to F major. 4/4 time. Pop funk tempo marking (quarter note equals
116).

Pedagogical Goals
• Entrances – make sure each part enters at the appropriate time.
• Harmony – there is a minimal amount
Challenges
• Off beat entrances

Logan 3
 • Part indepence – make sure everyone sings their own part.

Difficulty Level for Choir: easy

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH: SSA

WORLD MUSIC

Pong Pong Piyangaw

Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan, SSA, unaccompanied; Pavane Publishing, P1588.
Key of G major. 3/4 meter. Allegro tempo marking (quarter note equals ca. 146-154). Talaandig
text with translation and pronunciation. The piece is mostly repetitive with a section starting a
pattern and continuing it throughout the rest of the piece.
Pedagogical Goals
§ Syncopation – make sure that the choir knows the rhythm well enough to enter on the off beats.
§ Strong articulation – strong ‘pong’
Challenges
• Dynamic contrast – this fun piece may lead the choir to singing forte for the entire duration of the
song.
• Balance

Difficulty Level for Choir: moderately easy

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH: 3-PART

BAROQUE

Cantante Domino
Jerry Estes, 3-Part, with piano accompaniment; Alfred Music, 11581.
Key of C major. 4/4 meter. Simply lightly, emphasizing consonants, tempo marking (quarter note
equals ca. 112). Latin text, repetitive.
Pedagogical Goals
§ Dynamic contrast – with such a repetitive piece, it would be great to play around with the
dynamics for each phrase.
§ Lyrical phrases
Challenges
• A bit of chromatics in the piece, which are also a part of phrases. Be sure to make sure that those
pitches are correct.

Difficulty Level for Choir: medium

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH: SAB

CHORAL OCTAVO

Logan 4
Homeward Bound
Marta Keen/Jay Althouse. SAB with piano; Alfred Publishing Co. 16209.
Key of Eb major. Moderate tempo. ¾ meter with tenderly tempo marking of a quarter note
equaling 69-76. Optional solo(s) in the beginning of the piece.

Pedagogical Goals
• Attention to vowel unification
• Balance between each voice part
• Identify and bring out moving lines and suspensions
Challenges
• Breathing – make sure that choir is not taking breaths over held notes.
• Lilting rhythm

Difficulty Level for Choir: easy-moderate

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH: SAB

FOLK SONG

Loch Lomond
Ashley Nelson. SAB, unaccompanied; Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc. 1218.
Key of G major. Moderate tempo. 4/4 meter with a lilt tempo marking. Quarter note equaling
80. Repeating rhythmic bass line with accompanying alto line. Melody transfers to each part at
least once.

Pedagogical Goals
• Steady beat.
• Bring out suspensions on pages 7-8.
• Dynamic contrast – mainly on the longer passages later in the song.
Challenges
• Change of pace during the chordal passages (p.7), leaving from the rhythmic passages to a
slower, serine state.
• Steady beat

Difficulty Level for Choir: easy

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH: 3-PART

POP

Happy Together
Kirby Shaw. 3-Part with descant, with piano accompaniment; Hal Leonard Corporation 08552187.
Key of F minor. Moderate tempo. 4/4 meter with a happy swing tempo marking. Quarter note
equaling 132.

Pedagogical Goals

Logan 5
 • Syncopation – a lot of the entrances are on off beats.
• Bring out suspensions on pages 7-8.
• Dynamic contrast – mainly on the longer passages later in the song.
Challenges
• Swing rhythm is a little hard to feel when you’re first being introduced
• Expression! Make sure that the students are actually expressing what they’re singing about.
• A small amount of chromatics.

Difficulty Level for Choir: medium

HIGH SCHOOL: SSATBB

WORLD MUSIC

Kpanlongo
Derek Bermel. SSATBB, unaccompanied (optional percussion); Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.
150.
Key of Bb major. Rousing tempo. Cut time. Half note equaling 100-108. Repeating rhythmic
bass line, very percussive. Melody transfers to each part at least once.

Pedagogical Goals
• Rhythmic independence – each part has their own different rhythm.
• Dynamic contrast – mainly on the longer passages later in the song.
Challenges
• Sopranos entering at the correct time (ex. Page 6, enters on off beat)
• Enunciation

Difficulty Level for Choir: easy

HIGH SCHOOL: SATBB

POP/JAZZ

I Wish
Roger Emerson. SATBB, unaccompanied (optional percussion); Hal Leonard Corporation. 08202320.
Key of F major. Bright funk tempo marking. 4/4-time signature. Quarter note equaling 104.
Arrangement of the familiar pop hit recorded by Stevie Wonder. Fun piece filled with a ton of
jazz chords and vocal percussion.

Pedagogical Goals

Logan 6
 • Balance – there is a bit of call and response between the SSA line and lower lines. The lower line
may be outnumbered.
• Energy = Intonation. Performing this piece without the necessary energy will cause the intonation
to fall flat. This piece is the upper range for most parts, must be supported.

Challenges
• Devise – may be a little difficult, since most of the piece is pretty similar (rhythm-wise), Soprano
section may be confused as to what parts split into the division.
• Some chromatics throughout the piece.

Difficulty Level for Choir: medium-hard

HIGH SCHOOL: SATB

SECULAR

Come to the Music

Joseph M. Martin. SATB, accompanied by piano (optional piccolo and percussion); Shawnee Press.
35004454.
Key of G major. Allegro tempo marking. 6/8-time signature changes to 3/4 and 4/4. Dotted
quarter note equaling ca. 76. Rhythmic selection with meter changes which allows for a varied
staccato and legato feeling in the piece.

Pedagogical Goals
• Steady tempo – the pronunciation of the words and the rhythm that they are set to may lead the
students to rush through the piece.
• Meter changes

Challenges
• Legato vs. Staccato – The top line is singing such a rhythmic, staccato line while the bottom
voice as more of a legato ling. These two contrasts and may confuse each voice.
• Key change – very brief (m. 61-65)

Difficulty Level for Choir: medium-hard

HIGH SCHOOL: SATB

MASS

Kyrie from Mass in G, D. 167 arr. John Leavitt

Arranged by John Leavitt. Music by Franz Schubert. SATB, soprano solo accompanied. Shawnee Press.
35012156.

Logan 7
 Key of G major. Andante con moto tempo marking. 3/4-time signature. Quarter note equaling ca.
96. Excerpt of the well-known mass by Schubert. This arrangement enables choirs to create
varied musical lines.

Pedagogical Goals
• Diction – elongated vowels and strong starting constantans.
• Rise and fall for each phrase

Challenges
• Bringing out the suspensions in each part – for example, the first page and phrase starts at a piano
dynamic, while we want to the suspensions to be brought out, students may be more focused on
the dynamic marking.
• Measure 25, starting on chromatics. Ensure that the pitch is correct after the two beats of rests.

Difficulty Level for Choir: medium

OCTAVO

Gloria Deo
Jay Althouse. SATB, acapella. Alfred Music. 43181.
Key of F major. Brightly tempo marking. 7/8-time signature changes to 4/4 occasionally. Quarter
note equaling ca. 132-138.

Pedagogical Goals
• Special attention to the tenuto markings.
• Attention to the ritar(s). in the middle of the piece.

Challenges
• Intonation around m. 40- 52
• Meter changes.

Difficulty Level for Choir: medium-hard

Logan 8