New Releases and Additions

Les Miserables - Pro Vocal : Women/Men Edition, Volume 11

Review: Whether you're a karaoke singer or preparing for an audition, the Pro Vocal series is for you. The book contains the lyrics, melody, and chord symbols for classic songs. The CD contains demos for listening and separate backing tracks so you can sing along. The CD is playable on any CD, and it is also enhanced so Mac & PC users can adjust the recordings to any pitch without changing the tempo! Perfect for home rehearsal, parties, auditions, corporate events, and gigs without a backup band.Æ

Songlist: At The End Of The Day, Bring Him Home, Castle On A Cloud, Do You Hear The People Sing?, Drink With Me (To Days Gone By), Empty Chairs At Empty Tables, A Heart Full Of Love, I Dreamed A Dream, In My Life, A Little Fall Of Rain, Master Of The House, On My Own, Stars, Suddenly, Who Am I?

Style: Show Tunes

Solstice : Winter Solstice

Review: Veteran all-women septet, and one of our favorite World/Folk groups, we watched Solstice do the Bay Area proud by winning the Regional and placing 3rd in the 2007 National Finals. Urged by their friends and families to release a Holiday CD, the group finally and happily fulfilled this longtime dream, and Becca, Emily, Kim, Krista, Lark, Mari & Sara did it wonderfully! Choosing little-known, difficult classical tunes like Cortland Bender's lovely "Rosa Mystica," Francisco Guerrero's "A Un Nino Llorando Al Hielo" and Thomas Weelkes' "To Shorten Winter's Sadness," from the 15th and 16th centuries; beautifully arranged traditional carols like Bernard de la Monnoye's "Patapan," "Deck the Hall," and Franz Gruber's "Silent Night;" and popular Christmas songs like Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here," Tommie Connor's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and Alfred Burt's "Caroling, Caroling;" along with the rich traditional Hebrew song "S'Vivon" and other favorites, make "Winter Solstice" a very special 15-cut collection that is sure to brighten your holiday for years to come!

Songlist: Nowell, Nowell, Out of Your Sleep, Deck the Hall, S'Vivon, Rosa Mystica, Corpus Christi Carol, Patapan, Nova, Nova, Ave Fit Ex Eva, Christmas Time is Here, Tyrley, Tyrlow!, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, A Un Nino Llorando Al Hielo, Caroling, Caroling, Jul, Jul, To Shorten Winter's Sadness, Silent Night

Idea of North : This Christmas

Review: We will never forget the way these two men and two women from Australia, members of Vocal Jazz group The Idea of North, whose reputation as the best a cappella group in Australia preceded them, strode onto the stage of the 2003 Harmony Sweeps National Finals in San Rafael. They would be the very last to perform a 12-minute set, and the regional winners from around the country, many of whom had performed to standing ovations by the sold-out audience, had set the bar incredibly high. But their first sweet notes were a revelation, and after ION's own roaring standing O, it was obvious to all who the audience favorite and National Champions were. There are 12 tunes here, some of our favorites are a bluesy, finger-popping take on "The Christmas Song," "Christmas Medley," which blends "Once in Royal David's City," "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" with innovative arrangements; a gentle lullaby new to our ears, "The Silver Stars are In the Sky" touched and moved us; "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a big-band accompanied celebration; two Salsa band-accompanied versions of "Mary's Boy Child," one featuring James Morrison, and a pair of lovely, soaring, orchestra-accompanied songs, "Candlelight Carol" and "A Child is Born." The Pop-flavored title tune is also new to us, a joyous, Jazz band-accompanied greeting to the season. The a cappella "Angel" with its powerful "in the arms of the angel" chorus underscores the probable meanness of the nativity. We hold The Idea of North in a special place in our hearts and relate to "This Christmas" as a gift from this extraordinary quartet!

Songlist: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Christmas Song, Candlelight Carol, Mary's Boy Child, This Christmas, Angel, The Silver Stars are in the Sky, Once in Royal David's City, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, A Child Is Born, Poverty, I'll Be Home For Christmas

Deke Sharon and Dylan Bell : A Cappella Arranging

Review: At the heart of every vocal group is the music it performs. This often means writing its own arrangements of popular or traditional songs. This book is the long-awaited definitive work on the subject, wide ranging both in its scope and in its target audience - which spans beginners, music students, and community groups to professional and semi-professional performers, vocal/instrumental songwriters, composers, and producers - providing genre-specific insight on a cappella writng. The tone of the book is instructive and informative, yet conversational: it is intended to stand alongside any academic publication while remaining interesting and fun. Dubbed "the Father of Contemporary A Cappella" author Deke Sharon has firmly established himself as one of the leading vocal harmony talents today having arranged over 2,000 songs which are published worldwide. Deke was vocal producer on NBC's "The Sing-Off" and served as arranger, on-site music director and vocal producer for Universal's "Pitch Perfect" movie. A Cappella Arranging is a good textbook - and a "good read" - for every vocal arranger, whether amateur or professional; every vocal music classroom, and any professional recording studio. We highly recommend this book.

Songlist: Basic Arranging in 10 Steps, Principals in Arranging, What is Arranging?, The Arranging Sprectrum, Discovering Your Toolkit, Transcription, Five Myths About Music Making, Vocal Conventions, Song Selection, Listening to the Original, Listening to Other Versions, Form and Conceptualization, Preparing Your Materials, Melody and Lyrics, The Bass Line, Background Vocals, Final Touches, Record / Rehearse, In Depth Analyses, Change Up and Clever Bits, Arranging For Other Vocal Formats, Vocal Percusion, Specific A Cappella Styles, Writing For Your Own Group, Writing Medleys, Breaking the Block, Final Thoughts

Buzz : Jingle Buzz

Review: How do you create a Sweet Adelines Supergroup? Take Nancy and Jeannine from Gold medalists City Lights, Karen of Gold winner Jubilation and Debbie, wearing her Showtime Gold, add a cool motto: "Four Parts, One Voice," pick an ultra-cool name, stir vigorously and turn up the heat in top-drawer competition in Indianapolis in 2004. Wow judges, who name you 2005 Queens of Harmony, then continue to stir audiences and make hot recordings! "Jingle BUZZ" is a 12-song Christmas Album, some of our favorites would include standards "Jingle Bells," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "Mary Did You Know," "I Wonder As I Wander" (featuring a wonderful guest lead from Jim Henry), "Merry Christmas, Darling," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," and "What Child Is This." Surprise winners are the rarely recorded Swing tune, "Everybody's Waiting for the Man with the Bag" and the very funny "Diddly Squat," in which a "naughty" girl bemoans her letter's response from Santa. Classic leads and harmonies, well-chosen tunes, ringing, angelic chords-this is holiday cheer from the first cut to the last. "Jingle BUZZ" is great entertainment by one of Sweet Adelines' true Supergroups, sure to bring a welcome buzz to your house!

Songlist: Jingle Bells, I'll Be Home For Christmas, A Quartet Christmas, Mary, Did You Know?, Fa-La-La, I Wonder As I Wander, Everybody's Waiting For The Man With The Bag, Mary Had A Baby, Diddly Squat, Merry Christmas Darling, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa, What Child Is This?

Ward Swingle : A Cappella Jazz for SSAA

Review: Here's a collection of arrangements by Ward for unaccompanied women's voices. This arrangement of the old Irving Berlin standard "I Got Rhythm" evokes a Dixieland combo while Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" swings with a fun opportunity for some voices to scat. "It Was a Lover and His Lass" also has a lot of scat-like syllables (e.g. "hey-ding-a-ding") while "Reeds of Innocence" has a strong rhythmic element in the writing, with vocal imitations of flute sounds. It goes along at rather a moderate pace and is not difficult to sing. This is a fun collection for singers and for audiences alike.

Songlist: Don't Get Around Much Anymore, I Got Rhythm , It Was a Lover and His Lass, Reeds of Innocence

Mike Brewer : Oalla Mohololi - Three Songs From Africa

Review: Mike Brewer's Choral World Tour brings together traditional songs from around the world in exciting a cappella arrangements that will both challenge and stimulate your choir. Each piece is accompanied by a translation and pronunciation guide. In this collection, feel the pulsing rhythms of South Africa, experience the solid harmonies of a Namibian chorus, and experiment with the vocal techniques used in Tunisian song.

Songlist: Oalla Mohololi (Sotho ceremonial song from South Africa), Meguru (Kavango song from Namibia), Yelli bo'dek dhaya fikri (Love song from Tunisia)

Various Arrangers : Classic Pop for SAB Voices

Review: The iconic song "Seven Bridges Road" by the Eagles speaks directly to the heart with thrilling vocal harmonies that will showcase your ensemble at their best! "There are stars in the Southern sky/Southward as you go/There is moonlight and moss in the trees/Down the Seven Bridges Road." "We Will Rock You" - Your whole crowd will join in with the stomps and claps as you perform this rock and roll classic! This classic pop hit by Queen will bring down the house. Billy Joel's pop hit "The Longest Time" is a perennial favorite and evokes an even earlier time in America's pop history. "Let It Be" is one of the landmark songs of the 20th century and certainly at the apex of the Beatles catalog, this #1 pop hit in this a cappella setting will be an inspirational choice for choral concerts of all types.

Songlist: The Longest Time, Let It Be, Seven Bridges Road, We Will Rock You