ChorusLink
Music sets for hire for Community Choirs
Please note that whilst music can legitimately be borrowed free of charge, we do ask for a donation towards admin costs and to cover lost or damaged copies. This is not a profit making enterprise. All music can be purchased from www.sheetmusicplus.com (in America) or www.musicroom.com
Various Themes on "Fa-la-la"
arranged by Chuck Bridwell
Alfred.com
28537 SAB with piano
68 copies available
A wonderful piece for your Christmas concert, this is a very "classic" style "Deck the hall with boughs of holly" interspersed with snippets from the William Tell Overture, Beethoven's Symphony No 5, Op 67, J Strauss the beautiful Blue Danube, and finally Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture. A real crowd pleaser and we used this as our concert finale to wish everyone a happy Christmas. F major, extremely achievable, and I used each of the fa la la classic sections (William Tell overture etc) as warm ups each week so that the choir were drip fed and found it easy to put it all together. Brilliant little piece. Highly recommended.
The Girl from Ipenama, the Banana Boat Song and La Cumparsita
3 hot hits from Latin America
arranged by Gwyn Arch
SA (B)
Faber Young Voices
65 copies available
Although this is called Faber Young Voices I have used this series successfully with adult community choirs as the option is there for 2 part and 3 part depending on who I have! The first song in this book, The Girl from Ipenama, is quite tricky rhythmically and I havent yet used it for my community groups. We have sung the Banana boat song (which featured our men) and La Cumparsita was a great favourite (also known as the Argentinian Tango) but again the rhythms are tricky with syncopated entries. However well worth it - choir loved it and performed it with flair - not for the beginner choir though!
Seasons of Love
Words and music by Jonathan Larson
Arranged by Mac Huff
SAB
Hal Leonard 08551846
68 copies available
Seasons of Love is from the musical Rent which is based loosely on Puccini's opera La Boheme. This setting is the Lower East Side of New York City during the 1990s. This is more of a rock ballad, has driving rhythms and a middle section which needs some concentration by the singers as the entries are syncopated. However a lot of it is in unison and the voice parts are available for use (free) at John Fletcher's music website. Once the choir got to grips with it, they sang it brilliantly and enjoyed it. Not suitable for a beginner group but good for an intermediate community choir. Key F major throughout - not too high for anyone.
Broadway Classics
Faber Young Voices
Arranged by Gwyn Arch
SA(B)
20 copies
Another Faber Young Voices collection which includes One (Singular Sensation), My Favourite Things and The Rhythm of Life. My choirs have done them all - the Rhythm of Life is particularly achievable as it has been adjusted so that there are no top A's for the sopranos and the do-be-doos are not quite so complex. A great favourite - recommended for the beginner choir who already has some experience.