'Barbara Allen' - Singers can display expressiveness and beauty of phrasing in this lovely a cappella setting of the beloved English folk ballad. It tells the story of the unrequited love between Barbara Allen and Sweet William. Originally composed for a festival in Newfoundland, 'The Game of Cards' is based on an old English folk song. It should be sung with a storyteller's sense of delight in his own story; part wide-eyed wonder, part knowing smile. 'Chickens In the Garden' is a carousing English toasting song, hearty and robust and perfect for the pub with raised glass in hand Ð or, if the chance arises, perhaps for your next rollicking encore or concert piece! 'The text exists merely to give form to the music and is meaningless,' says Finnish composer Mantyjarvi, whose 'El Hambo' in 1999 was an instant success with American high school choirs. In 'Pseudo-Yoik' he takes a humorous look at the stereotype of the Lapland folk music.