Human’s love of singing has been demonstrated from the very beginning of our history and was one of the first musical styles to be formalized with songs and written music. From Gregorian chant and mediaeval music thru the Renaissance there was great emphasis on the human voice and the songs were often sung a cappella. Although challenging this style of singing can be a lot of fun and every choir and ensemble should have some of these time-tested songs in their repertoire.
This colleciton of pieces represent the high art and refinement of the choral song from several countries during the age of the Renaissance. The vocal chamber music in this collection was designed for entertainment in a palace chamber or the home. All of the represented forms in this collection used both the familiar style of the homophony as well as polyphony. the pieces can be perormed with multiple voices to each part or s little as one voice for each part. For the german and French songs, the original text is provided as well as an english paraphrase. For one to six voices.
| 9589 SONGBOOK $12.95 |
 | What if I Never Speed, John Dowland SATB a cappella |
This colleciton of pieces represent the high art and refinement of the choral song from several countries during the age of the Renaissance. The vocal chamber music in this collection was designed for entertainment in a palace chamber or the home. All of the represented forms in this collection used both the familiar style of the homophony as well as polyphony. the pieces can be perormed with multiple voices to each part or s little as one voice for each part. For the german and French songs, the original text is provided as well as an english paraphrase.
| 1552 SONGBOOK $5.95 |
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This collection of rounds and part songs, drawn from the collections of Thomas Ravenscroft, provides a look into the popular music-making of the 16th and early 17th centuries. Overflowing with helpful editorial suggestions and historical context, this is a wonderful resource for both performance and education!
| 9801 SONGBOOK $14.95 |
 | Audivi vocem de caelo |
This anthology comprises 17 of Tallis's shorter choral pieces, and is designed to provide choirs and students with a pratical and interesting cross-section of the composer's smaller-scale output. These are practical perfoming editions, transposed where necessary, supplemented by a full critical apparatus for each peice and a general introduction to the anthology. SATB
| 6605 SONGBOOK $13.95 |
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Verily, verily |
Tallis flourished as a church musician in 16th century England. He occupies a primary place in anthologies of English church music, and is considered among the best of its earliest composers. Tallis has been said to be one of the most important composers of his time and is honoured for his original voice in English musicianship. Here is a collection of his unaccompanied works arranged for SATB.
| 8051 SHEET MUSIC $9.95 |
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All Creatures Now SATB divisi a cappella |
A variety of music from the
great flowering of the English choral art in the king'singers' own
editions. Includes a general introduction to the era and background on
each work. A must for every high school and college choral library!
Includes pieces by: William Byrd (Sing Joyfully, Haec Dies), Orlando
Gibbons (Drop Drop Slow Tears, The Silver Swan), John Bennett (All
Creatures Now, Weep O Mine Eyes), Thomas Weelkes (As Vesta Was), Thomas
Morley (Fire Fire), Edward Pierce (Hunting the Hare), Thomas Ravenscroft
(A Round of Three Country Dances, The Three Ravens), Thomas Tallis (If
Ye Love Me).
| 6123 SONGBOOK $6.95 |
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Au Joli Jeu SATB divisi a cappella |
Here are 12 of the King's Singers favorite works of
the European Renaissance in their own performing editions. Includes
performance notes and translations for each work. Spanish: Otro tal
misacantano (Anonymous), Dindirin, dindirin (Anonymous); French: Triste
depart (Nicolas Gombert), La, la, la, je ne l'ose dire (Pierre Certon),
Au joli jeu du pousse avant (Clement Janequin); German: Tanzen und
Springen (Hans Leo Hassler), Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen (Heinrich
Isaac); Italian: Parmi di star (Severin Cornet), Il bianco e dolce cigno
(Jacques Arcadelt), Chi chilichi (Orlande de Lassus); English: Hark All
Ye Lovely Saints (Thomas Weelkes), I Love, Alas, I Love Thee (Thomas
Morley). Songlist
| 6141 SONGBOOK $6.95 |
 | Alleluia (Boyce) |
This delightful collection of 99 rounds, canons and partsongs makes a
delightful introduction to part-singing to kids from 6 to 106! The
selections are arranged by categories including English Pre-1700
(Secular), Pre-1700 (Sacred), Post 1700, From Around the World and
Wordless Rounds. There's also a surprise or two! Includes: Alleluia
(Boyce), Christmas Is Coming, Coffee Canon, Come Follow, Come Let Us All
A-Maying Go, Dona Nobis Pacem, Hava Na Shira, If Turn'd Topsy Turvy,
Jubilate Deo, Mi Gallo, My Dame Hath a Lame Tame Crane, Non Nobis
Domine, Oaken Leaves, Shalom Chaverim, The Silver Swan, Summer Is
A-Coming In, Tallis' Canon, Viva la Musica, When Jesus Wept and 80
more.
| 6128 SONGBOOK $8.95 |
 | Laudate Dominum (O praise the Lord our God)
- Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni |
Here are twelve outstanding works from
some of the best composers of the era. All are suitable for use in
concert performance as well as being organized to provide anthems for
most of the major occasions of the Church year.
| 9601 SONGBOOK $5.95 |
 | Mass Of Propers For
The Feast Of Old Saints |
William Byrd's Mass Proper for the feast of All Saints is beautifully arranged for unaccompanied mixed voices by Sally Dunkly.
| 9356 SONGBOOK $7.50 |
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Miserere Mei - arr. John Milsom (SATB)B
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The greatest English composer of his generation, comparable in stature to his most distinguished continental contemporaries, William Byrd was a versatile composer. Byrd's compositions for the church may be separated into those for the Catholic liturgy and those designed for the officially recognised Church of England. The first category includes settings of the Mass for three, four and five voices, and a large quantity of other works for the various seasons of the church year. Well-known for his keyboard works here are a collection of his a cappella arrangements that have has been sung in English cathedrals uninterrupted for the past four centuries.
| 8053 SHEET MUSIC $6.95 0 |
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O Magnum Mysterium - arr. Skinner, David |
The greatest English composer of his generation, comparable in stature to his most distinguished continental contemporaries, William Byrd was a versatile composer. Byrd's compositions for the church may be separated into those for the Catholic liturgy and those designed for the officially recognised Church of England. The first category includes settings of the Mass for three, four and five voices, and a large quantity of other works for the various seasons of the church year. Well-known for his keyboard works here are a collection of his a cappella arrangements that have has been sung in English cathedrals uninterrupted for the past four centuries. For SATB choir.
| 8054 SHEET MUSIC $9.95 |
 | Preface |
The classic introductory text
focuses on the polyphonic vocal style perfected by Palestrina. Unlike
many other texts, it maintains a careful balance between theoretical and
practical problems, between historical and systematic methodology. The
result is an exceptional useful resource, ideal for classroom use in
teaching modal counterpoint. The first part of the book explores the
beginning of contrapuntal theory from the ninth to the fourteenth
century. This is followed by separate discussions of each succeeding
century, the styles of Palestrina and Bach and ends with a section
illuminating coverage of notation, the ecclesiastical modes, melody and
harmony. The second part of the book contains an extended treatment of
“species” counterpoint in two, three and four parts and
specific discussions of the cannon, the motet and the Mass.
| 6574 BOOK $15.95 |
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Missa Cantate SATTBB a cappella |
This practical performing edition is based on the single extant manuscript preserved at the Bodleian Library. The beautiful and well-written Missa Cantate (Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei) follows the well-established technique of drawing some material, usually the cantus firmus, from a pre-existing work.
| 9634 SONGBOOK $19.95 |
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Super flumina Babylonis |
Phillipe de Monte wrote Super flumina Babylonis (By the streams of Babylon, there we sat and wept) and sent it to William Byrd who responded by setting the subsequent verses of the psalm text Quomodo Cantabimus (How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land). This edition allows these wonderful pieces to be sung as a unit or separately.
| 9635 SONGBOOK $7.95 |
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Musica, Dei donum optimi |
The setting was originally published in the year of Lassus' death (1594) and comes from his mature voice. Although it is economical in expression, it is rich and sonorous in sound and brought alive by the six-part counterpoint. It truly brings the text 'Music is a gift from God' to life.
| 9636 SONGBOOK $3.95 |
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Beatus et Sanctus, sive vigilem |
This edition reconstructs two breathtaking motets by the English composer William Mundy. The text by St Francis of Assisi, incorporating the phrase 'we do not know the day or the hour when the Lord will come', is appropriate for the end of the Church Year and during the Season of Advent. These elegant, straightforward settings are within the abilities of most church choirs..
| 9637 SONGBOOK $3.95 |
 | Missa De beata |
Missa de Beata Virgine is a musical setting of the Ordinary of the Mass, by Renaissance composer Josquin des Prez. A late work, probably composed or assembled around 1510, it was the most popular of his masses in the 16th century. The Missa de Beata Virgine is unusual among Josquin's masses in that the first two movements are for four voices, and the last three for five, with the fifth voice derived canonically. Like most musical settings of the mass Ordinary, it is in five sections, or movements. It uses different plainsong chants for each movement, and is a paraphrase mass, one in which the original chants are elaborated, broken up, passed between voices, or sung in different voices simultaneously. The movements differ in their treatment of the source plainchant. The Kyrie has the chant in all voices, imitatively and paraphrased; the Gloria treats the chant as a cantus firmus, migrating it from voice to voice. Tonally, both movements end on G, and most of their cadences are on G or D. The Credo, the first movement for five voices, ends with a surprising Phrygian cadence on E, and uses canonic techniques more prominently than in the preceding movements.
| 9603 SONGBOOK $18.95 |
 | Kyrie |
Missa Papae Marcelli, or Pope Marcellus Mass, is Palestrina’s most well-known and most often-performed mass, and is frequently taught in university courses on music. The mass is freely composed, not based upon a cantus firmus or parody. It is a six-voice mass, though the use of the full forces is reserved for specific climactic portions in the text, and voice combinations are varied throughout the piece. It is set primarily in a homorhythmic, declamatory style, with little overlapping of text and a general preference for block chords such that the text, unlike many polyphonic masses of the 16th century, can clearly be heard in performance.
| 9599 SONGBOOK $9.95 |
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O Magnum Mysterium - Thomas Luis de Victoria (arr. Russell Robinson) SATB a cappella |
"O Magnum Mysterium" was written in the late Renaissance period by Tomas Luis de Victoria, this beautiful piece captures the wonder and mystique of Christ’s birth. Russell Robinson has arranged O Magnum Mysterium, making it more accessible to both school and church choirs, by setting it in a slightly higher key than the original, and with notation that is more easily understood. The music of the Renaissance has a pure clarity of sound that every singer should experience. Ruth Elaine Schram’s setting of "Agnus Dei" is a lush setting with parts intertwining in the most unexpected ways, forming uniquely beautiful harmonies. The cyclical nature of the piece reiterates the meaning of the text, a fervent prayer, “Lamb of God, grant us peace.” Festival or contest piece for schools, and a moving Lenten anthem for the sanctuary. A passionate Latin text, "Adoramus Te" embodies all of the purity and pristine beauty of Renaissance music. Sung a capella, this reverent masterwork may be used in concert, contest, or festival settings by school or church groups. Appropriate for high school children. Robert Shaw commissioned Chester Alwes to make an edition of Tomás Luis de Victoria’s motet, "O Vos Omnes", which was to be sung as part of the Robert Shaw Summer Festival in France. Robert Shaw has added tempo indication and expressive and dynamic marks, which indicates his feelings about how the piece should be realized in contemporary performance giving modern conductors the guidance of one of America’s foremost choral musicians. The a cappella madrigal from the high Renaissance "Adieu, Sweet Amaryllis" is now available as a choral. It features opportunities for dynamic contrasts and development of musical line. John Leavitt has edited the piece with optional cue notes to make the tenor range more accessible to a larger group of singers. This madrigal is stunningly beautiful. This buoyant Spanish love song"Catinga" includes words by Gil Vincente and extols the beauty of one beyond compare, asking sailor, soldier, and shepherd if they have ever seen such loveliness. Cantiga is sung a cappella, with the voices simulating the strumming of a guitar and providing percussive accompaniment to the melody. Great fun!
| 8091 SHEET MUSIC $10.95 |
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3 Part mixed a cappella |
Arcadelt is known for his homophonic, tuneful settings. Provided with a new English text by the editor, the late Renaissance work "Come Join In Singing" is perfect for the emerging mixed ensemble. The boys' range is limited to five notes. Performed a cappella, with keyboard or with instruments, this work is ideal for concert, contest or festival. The easy-to-sing concert work "Sing Gloria!" is built on Billing's Wake Ev'ry Breath canon. It's an ideal concert opener that will be a welcome addition to every choral library. "Laudate Dominum" - Victoria, one of Spain's finest composers of the Renaissance, has been immortalized for his combination of melodic lines which weave beautiful tonal tapestries. This work, in our Easy Choral Masterworks series, is very short and accessible for young voices. Perfect for concert or contest. The most famous of all 15th Century Italian madrigals "Fa Una Canzona" is brought to life in this new Russell Robinson edition from our Developing SATB Repertoire series. Both English and Italian texts are included.
| 7023 SHEET MUSIC $9.95 |
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SATB a cappella |
Some choral classics from the Renaissance period. First published in 1603, the quintessential John Dowland madrigal "Weep You No More Sad Fountains" has been newly edited by Russell Robinson. SATB and 3-part mixed choirs will enjoy the lush texture and rich harmonic structure, which exemplifies music of the Renaissance era, and appreciate the high quality of Dr. Robinson’s tidy edition. Solid choral repertoire. Long a standard in the choral repertoire, Palestrina's "Adoramus Te" continues to be a favorite for contest or festival. Range is excellent for the SATB junior high choir. Sixteenth century Italian composer Adriano Banchieri must have had quite the sense of humor. The classic light-hearted concert work "Counterpoint Of The Animals" has been a staple in choral repertoire for decades. Now Russell Robinson brings us a new setting that will add a touch of classy fun to any serious concert. Glorious polyphony soars in this edition of Victoria's "O Magnum Mysterium". Long melismas and fugal entrances are part of the beauty of this great Renaissance work. For contest, festival or concert use.
| 7012 SHEET MUSIC $7.95 |
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Grace SSAA a cappella |
American Angels is the diary of Anonymous 4's first journey to the roots of Anglo-American spiritual vocal music. It includes 18th-century psalm settings and fuging tunes from rural New England, 19th century folk hymns and camp revival songs from the rural South, and gospel songs originating in the Northeastern cities and adopted in the late 19th Century by rural Southerners. Also included are the charts from some of their other recordings.
| 9545 SHEET MUSIC $9.95 |
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If Ye Love Me - Thomas Tallis - arr. Russell Robinson SSA a cappella |
Our fascination with the music of the medieval era continues to grow and grow. This collection with contemporary notation and helpful performance options offers the modern choir an opportunity to celebrate the music of the past. “If Ye Love Me” is one of the most recognized anthems from the English Renaissance, in a new adaptation specifically geared to the limits of younger voices and middle school choirs. Intimate and expressive, this would work well in both concert and worship settings, and provides a great way to introduce young singers to historical choral works. “Domine Fili Unigenite” features canonic imitation, vocal ostinati, and delicately intertwining melodies, this a cappella setting is stunning. “Gloria Patri” has powerful antiphonal effect provides a dramatic vehicle for the English or Latin text! An appealing Renaissance work for both your mixed and treble ensembles! “Exultate Justi” is the famous Psalm 33 motet by Lodovico Grossi da Viadana adapted for younger ensembles. This composition is written in the typical Renaissance style of motets (a cappella sacred works) and madrigals (a cappella secular works). “Celebrate This Day Together” - energetic and rhythmic 16th-century piece is an excellent introduction to the music of the Renaissance. Includes secular or Christmas lyrics and optional hand drum.
| 8016 SHEET MUSIC $9.95 |
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a cappella |
“O Virgin Resplendent” - A late medieval canon, moving almost entirely in fluid eighth-note triplets, comes to rest at the end of each phrase. Edited by Mark Winges for the Piedmont Children's Choirs, this piece works beautifully as a processional. “Marriage bed of Chastity” - This lively 13th-century conductus from the Las Huelgas manuscript, with added optional percussion parts, makes a very effective processional. Mary is the "marriage bed of chastity" sought by God the Father for bearing the Son. “O frondens virga” - This new edition of Hildegard's antiphon places it in its liturgical context, pairing it with a plainchant "Magnificat" (included in this edition by William Flynn). The reprise of the antiphon has an optional added voice in organum, reflecting medieval performance practice. Latin, with full translation and historical and performance notes. “Dancing” - "I stumble and tumble," begins this freely-rendered medieval text, set in 6/4 over a delightfully lurching scat ostinato in 12/8. Written for the women of the Cornell University Chorus, it works easily when conducted in a big 2. English. “Circle” - In this medieval mystic text the circle is an image for meditation, first excluding, then embracing, the world. The musical setting reflects the image with contracting and expanding textures, and a soprano solo.
| 8033 SHEET MUSIC $7.95 |
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Love Learns By Laughing - Thomas Morley SSAA a cappella |
Jerry Weseley Harris has more than 500 published choral compositions, arrangements and editions, sold throughout the world. Here is a great collection of arrangements from some of the masters of the Renaissance period that are accessible and fun to sing.
| 8071 SHEET MUSIC $6.95 |
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Adoramus Te - Palestrina (arr. Russell Robinson) SSA cappella |
The French chanson "Mon Coeur Se Recommande A Vous" (a polyphonic song popular in the 15th and 16th centuries) focuses on the subject of love. Performance notes and a pronunciation guide for the eight lines of French are included in the publication, or use the sensitive English text provided by Dr. Robinson. New edition for SSA choirs! "Exsultate Justi" - Sixteenth-century composer Lodovico Viadana created this wonderful work that is now a choral performance classic, performed regularly by choirs throughout the world. Earlene presents this new setting that will give your women a chance to shine. The most famous of all 15th Century Italian madrigals "Fa Una Canzona" is brought to life in this new Russell Robinson edition from our Developing SATB Repertoire series. Both English and Italian texts are included. This fine collection offers arrangement that are both challenging and rewarding and will certainly help boost your singers confidence.
| 7016 SHEET MUSIC $12.50 |
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TTBB a cappella |
This is a fine collection of unaccompanied music from some of the master's of the golden age of polyphony. Missa Ave Regina Coelorum (c.1464) is Dufay's crowning achievement and we know that Dufay requested that this Angus Dei be sung on his deathbed. Crucifixus was originally intended for solo voices, but is transcribed here for four-part male chorus. It may be sung effectively by solo voices, chamber choir, or full chorus. Everybody's repertoire should include some examples of this early music style and are both fun and interesting to perform. This music has been sung for 500 plus years and still continues to please!
| 8050 SHEET MUSIC $13.50 |
 | Osculetur me |
Palestrina first published his 29 five-part motets, to words from King Soloman’s Song of Songs, in 1583-1584 in Rome. These are most rewarding and challenging pieces for ensembles looking to add to their repertoire.
| 9602 SONGBOOK $24.95 |
 | Covering the Basics |
Though one rarely hears an entire chanted liturgy today, any prayer the priest sings seem somehow richer, more heartfelt and efficacious. Unfortunately many of those in training for the ministry do not receive the training needed to properly sing the parts of the mass. This book can be used with advantage by individuals or in seminaries as the basis for a course in ministerial singing. Pastors who are already ministering will find the book useful if they are concerned about their role as singing ministers.
| 6570 BOOK & CD $19.95 |
 | Melodic Notation |
Inspired by his
own love for the chant, Dr. Fowells has provided a simple guide book
enabling anyone to experience the inherent beauty and intense
spirituality of this ancient musical treasure. He not only teaches how
to read chant notation and interpret the ancient neumes, but also
provides 21 simple chants with texts that can be used in every church
throughout the year.
| 6575 BOOK $9.95 |
 | Here We Come a-Caroling SATB a cappella |
Traditional carols arranged by the highly-regarded Kirby Shaw as for a Renaissance choral performance. Fun and assessable for all choirs.
| 9606 SHEET MUSIC $2.95 |
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Veni, Redemptor Gencium SATB a cappella |
The New Oxford Book of Carols (1992) was born of the need for a practical collection presenting carols either in their original versions (where such a concept was relevant) or in versions that respected the essential character of the melodies and their texts. The original 700-page book, which contains alternative versions of many carols, also offers an extensive historical introduction and notes to individual carols, from which the information below is summarized. The word "carol" has had a variety of meanings, starting as a dance-song in the Middle Ages. Carols are now almost exclusively associated with Christmas, and their subject-matter is either midwinter cheer, or the conception and birth of Christ. While modern secular practice is to sing them before Christmas, they formerly belonged to the period between Christmas eve and Epiphany. Our own criteria for selecting carols re that the content must be narrative, contemplative or celebratory, the spirit simple, the form normally strophic.
| 9646 SHEET MUSIC $4.50 |
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TTBB a cappella |
Sixteenth century composer Lodovico Viadana created the wonderful work "Exultate Justi" that is now a choral performance classic, performed regularly by choirs throughout the world. Earlene presents this new setting that will give either your men a chance to shine. The well-known song "Psallite" by Praetorius from the German Renaissance period has long been a part of our choral repertoire. Russell Robinson has created an easy-to-sing SATB setting as well as a three-part men's edition. A perfect way to present standard choral repertoire to your developing choirs.
| 7015 SHEET MUSIC $5.50 |
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Dormi, Jesu! - arr. Jonathan D. Green SSAA a cappella |
The carol text “The Burning Babe” is by the same sixteenth-century poet--Robert Southwell--as the better-known "This Little Babe." Like its sister text, it explores an unusual metaphor for the infant Jesus--in this case, a refining fire which purifies the believer. The strophic setting, with soprano solo, is dissonant and chromatic, with edgy rhythms: a fine selection to balance against sweeter Christmas settings. This raucous arrangement of “Wassailin'” with "doo-wah" patterns goes "all over the town" in its depiction of a rowdy Christmas feast. Try it as a change of pace at a madrigal dinner! Choral drones, small percussion, and canon are some of the simple but extremely effective devices in this arrangement of “Puer Nobis Nascitur” in 6/8 time. This piece will make a fine processional for your Christmas concert. This gentle, homophonic setting of “Dormi, Jesu!”, with its low tessitura and repeated rhythmic pattern, would definitely comfort the baby. This piece is perfect for setting a quiet mood for a Christmas service or concert.
| 8038 SHEET MUSIC $6.95 |
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