A Few of Our Favorite …Accessible Traditional SpiritualsCompiled by Eric Dundore I recently received a message from one of our members inquiring about more accessible Traditional African-American Spirituals for their choir. Sometimes the best-known arrangements of spirituals are rhythmically and harmonically challenging and have too many voice parts to be practical in a smaller choir setting. So here are some (but certainly not all) spiritual arrangements that choirs could sing with much less stress and fewer singers. These pieces can be previewed and purchased at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/ or https://www.jwpepper.com/ All My Trials: arr. Harry Causey • SAB w/piano or guitar • Beckenhorst Press All Night, All Day: arr. Greg Gilpin • SAB w/piano and track recording • Shawnee Press The Angel Rolled the Stone Away: arr. Daniel C. Meyer • SAB a cappella • GIA Publ. Behold that Star: arr. Patsy Ford Simms • SAB a capella • Shawnee Press Born, Born in Bethlehem: arr. Donald Moore • SAB (also two-part and TB) w/piano and tambourine • BriLee Music Bright Mansions Above: arr. Greg Gilpin • SAB (optional low bass) w/piano • Warner Bros. Chariot Comin’: arr. Sonja Poorman • SAB w/piano • BriLee Music Deep River: arr. Karl Hitzemann • SAB w/piano • Plank Road Publ. Deep River: arr. Donald Moore • SATB a cappella • Morning Star Music Deep River: arr. Earlene Rentz • SAB w/piano • Warner Bros. Down by the Riverside: arr. Lon Beery and Pamela Lee • SAB (optional low bass) w/piano • Bri Lee Music Elijah Rock: arr. Roger Emerson • SAT(B) w/piano • Hal Leonard Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit: arr. Ruth Schram • SATB w/piano (opt. handbells) • Warner Bros. Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit: arr. Debbie Cavalier • SAB w/piano (opt. percussion) • Carl Fischer Ezekiel Saw the Wheel: arr. Gilbert Martin • SAB w/piano • Hinshaw Give Me Jesus: arr. Larry Shackley • SAB (also SATB) w/piano • Alfred Music Go Down, Moses: arr. Michael Myrick • SAB (some three-part treble divisi) w/piano Go Down, Moses: arr. Stephen DeCesare • SAB (and other voicings) w/piano • Exultet Music Going Over Home (medley of Poor Wayfaring Stranger and Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child): • arr. Sonja Poorman • SAB (also SATB) w/piano • BriLee Music Gonna Sing: arr. Andy Beck • SAB (also two-part, SSA, and TTB) a cappella w/percussion • Alfred Music Go, Tell It on the Mountain: arr. Russell Robinson • two-part Mixed (with opt. SATB notes) w/ piano • Warner Bros. Harps and Wheels (medley of Little David, Play on Your Harp and Ezekiel Saw the Wheel): arr. Joseph Martin • 2-pt mixed w/piano • Shawnee Press Here's One: arr. Tom Fettke • SAB (also SATB) w/piano • Alfred Music Hush! Somebody's Callin' My Name: arr. Brazeal Dennard • SAB (also SATB, two-part, and TTBB) a cappella • Hal Leonard I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing: arr. James DesJardins • SAB w/piano • Carl Fischer I'm Trampin': arr. Neil A. Johnson • SAB w/piano • Heritage Music Press Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child: arr. Lloyd Larson • SAB w/piano • Hope Publ. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho: arr. Pat Willet – SAB (also two-part and SATB) w/piano • Heritage Music Press Keep in the Middle of the Road: Arr. Russell Robinson • SAB (also two-part) w/piano • Heritage Music Press Little David: arr. Michael Scott • SAB w/piano • Warner Bros. Lonesome Road: arr. Sonja Poorman • SAB (also two-part, SATB and TTB) w/piano • Warner Bros. Lonesome Valley: arr. Roger Emerson • SAB w/piano • Hal Leonard Ride the Chariot: arr. William Melton • SAB (flexible voicing options) a cappella • Cambiata Press Ride the Chariot: arr. Ander Thomas • SATB a cappella w/drum • Hinshaw Set Down Servant: arr. Roger Emerson • SAB (also two-part and SATB) w/piano • Hal Leonard Sinner Man: arr. Roger Emerson • SAB (opt. tenor) w/piano • Hal Leonard Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child: arr. Christopher Kalstad • SAB w/piano Songs of the Wayfarer: arr. Joseph Martin • two-part mixed (also SA) w/piano • Shawnee Press There Is a Balm in Gilead: arr. Don Smith • SATB w/solo a cappella • Plymouth Music There Is More Love Somewhere: arr. Robert Hugh • SAB w/piano • Hal Leonard This Little Light of Mine: arr. Earlene Rentz • SAB w/piano Wade in the Water: arr. Donald Moore • SATB w/piano (opt. bass and drums) • Alfred Music Wade in the Water: arr. Russell Robinson • SAB w/piano • Alfred Music Wade in the Water: arr. Bruce Trinkley • SATB w/piano • Augsburg Fortress Wade in the Water and Lord, I Know I Been Changed: arr. Michael Myrick • SAB (also SATB) w/piano Were You There: arr. Stephen DeCesare • two-part Mixed (also SA or TB) w/piano - Exultet Music If you have a good grasp on the Gospel music style, check out the choral music of Horace J. Scruggs, III at Music Composition horacescruggsmusic.com. He has really exciting arrangements of:
Also, the Podd Brothers – Adam and Matt. The Podd Brothers have several arrangements of spirituals in various voicings and with rehearsal tracks, but accessible, including: They also have made this pledge:
For the Summer 2023 issue of the journal, we are asking the question, "What choir anthem has had the most positive influence on your life and why?" Please ask your choir members to respond and send their answers (as long as they wish) to ericdundore@outlook.com by March 30, 2023. | MUSIC DOWNLOADS By Mary Louise Bringle Tune By McKee Lyrics & Arr. Reverend Cliff Aerie By Tom Trenney By Jean Sibelius By Jean Sibelius Arr. WWL By Jean Sibelius Arr. WLW CROSSES
This Celtic wheel cross is a form of Christian cross that emerged in Ireland, France and Great Britain in the Early Middle Ages. It became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses erected across the islands, especially in regions evangelized by Irish missionaries. This cross is not to be confused with a variation that was appropriated for use as a symbol of white supremacy. The symbol is vastly used by non-extremists in contexts such as Christianity, neo-Paganism, and Irish patriotism. |
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Worship, Music & Ministry is a publication of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association, Inc. and is issued three times a year. The journal is distributed to members of UCCMA as a benefit of membership. All correspondence concerning membership in UCCMA, changes of address and other inquiries should be addressed to the United Church of Christ Musicians Association, P.O. Box 370631, West Hartford, CT 06137. Information about the United Church of Christ Musicians Association is available at www.uccma.org. Copyright © 2023 by the United Church of Christ Musicians Association, Inc. |
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