Choral Explorations

Roger Emerson : Shenandoah

Using rich, lush contemporary harmonies often found in pop and jazz settings and featuring voices that are often relegated to harmony, this new setting of the familiar chanty is a joy to sing.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

Roger Emerson : Shenandoah

Using rich, lush contemporary harmonies often found in pop and jazz settings and featuring voices that are often relegated to harmony, this new setting of the familiar chanty is a joy to sing.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

This year, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which granted a woman's right to vote. The lyrics for this piece are based on the writings and speeches of several important women's leaders who helped make this a reality. The music is sturdy and strong and represents those women whose words inform this story.

Composer: Emily Crocker

This year, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which granted a woman's right to vote. The lyrics for this piece are based on the writings and speeches of several important women's leaders who helped make this a reality. The music is sturdy and strong and represents those women whose words inform this story.

Composer: Emily Crocker

Now available in an accessible setting for beginning SATB choirs, this driving spiritual is an excellent and well-crafted choice for developing ensembles.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

A Paul Simon original, Simon & Garfunkel repurposed and rereleased this stoic track to wrap up the groundbreaking 1966 album Sounds of Silence. Dealing with a heavy theme, Emerson brilliantly collects the powerful text and cements the feelings of enduring oneness within the collective forum of a choir.

Arranger: Roger Emerson | Composer: Paul Simon | Performed By: Simon and Garfunkel

A Paul Simon original, Simon & Garfunkel repurposed and rereleased this stoic track to wrap up the groundbreaking 1966 album Sounds of Silence. Dealing with a heavy theme, Emerson brilliantly collects the powerful text and cements the feelings of enduring oneness within the collective forum of a choir.

Arranger: Roger Emerson | Composer: Paul Simon | Performed By: Simon and Garfunkel

The plaintive sound of the lonesome train whistle and the longing of the traveler for home are evoked in this well-crafted setting of an American classic. An urgent rhythmic groove and contrasting cello line give it a contemporary feel that is instantly compelling.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

The plaintive sound of the lonesome train whistle and the longing of the traveler for home are evoked in this well-crafted setting of an American classic. An urgent rhythmic groove and contrasting cello line give it a contemporary feel that is instantly compelling.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

The beauty and freshness of spring bursts into being with this exuberant original for treble voices. A vibrant theme lends itself to call and response, imitation and variation over a buoyant piano accompaniment contrasting with a more subdued middle section. An ideal concert and festival selection for developing choirs in middle and high school.

Composer: Emily Crocker

With a tune based on the beautiful English ballad Pretty Polly, Woody Guthrie's lyrics describes the challenges as well as the dignity of migrant workers in North America. With choral writing that is perfect for maturing high school voices but where there are no tenors, this is a song that encourages discussions around American farm workers, literature as the music relates to Steinbeck and his Grapes of Wrath, and the critical state of agriculture. This is a winner in every sense.

Arranger: Emily Crocker | Composer: Woody Guthrie

This original work has a majestic, wide-open feel to it, perfect for its theme of exploration and discovery! An excellent work for beginning and developing choirs, it works especially well for a festival performance and may easily be customized for your own school situation.

Arranger: Russell Robinson

This original work has a majestic, wide-open feel to it, perfect for its theme of exploration and discovery! An excellent work for beginning and developing choirs, it works especially well for a festival performance and may easily be customized for your own school situation.

Arranger: Russell Robinson

Reflecting on the bravery and resolve of a soldier, this is a song of strength and power that your young men will resonate with. As always, Cristi has written this in a style and with vocal ranges that will let your young men shine.

Composer: Walter de la Mare

This novel treatment of the classic cowboy song is anything but the original. Completely reharmonized with extended phrases and a minor mode for the third verse will make it perfect for that concert or festival while still motivating with its contemporary harmonies.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

This novel treatment of the classic cowboy song is anything but the original. Completely reharmonized with extended phrases and a minor mode for the third verse will make it perfect for that concert or festival while still motivating with its contemporary harmonies.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

The reflective, melancholy poem by Sara Teasdale creates a quiet meditative mood in this accessible work for SSA choirs. The wonderful imagery of this concert selection make it an excellent contrast work for contest or festival program.

Composer: John Purifoy

Complete with violin and snare drum, and set to an immovable, unshakable tempo, this Civil War classic chronicles the journey and plight of two brothers on opposite sides of the Mason/Dixon Line.

Arranger: Emily Crocker | Composer: Irving Gordon

Complete with violin and snare drum, and set to an immovable, unshakable tempo, this Civil War classic chronicles the journey and plight of two brothers on opposite sides of the Mason/Dixon Line.

Arranger: Emily Crocker | Composer: Irving Gordon

Although any piece with abundant references to snow and cold would easily be placed in the winter category, Watch it Snow is a song that can be sung at any time of year. The falling snow can serve as an expressive metaphor: just as we must wait for the storm to pass before we begin shoveling our driveways, we must rest and reflect in the moments of calm between the many challenges of life.

Composer: Eric Tsavdar

Growth, change, love and loss - these are all a part of growing to adulthood. This gentle original offers an introspective look at these emotions with accessible and well-crafted pop style harmonies and a lyric that singers will embrace as their own.

Composer: Audrey Snyder

Growth, change, love and loss - these are all a part of growing to adulthood. This gentle original offers an introspective look at these emotions with accessible and well-crafted pop style harmonies and a lyric that singers will embrace as their own.

Composer: Audrey Snyder