Music Review
"On Your Way To Church.....
....pick up a new song!"

There are few, new sacred songs being publshed for male voices. However, the interesting thing is that many of the publishers are sending me copies of pieces which were first published 5 or more years ago. Are these re-released because they were so popular? or because they didn't sell the first time around? Those that I have included in this review I believe are the winners--they did sell, and here is a second change for you to look at them again. This list includes a wide variety of music of both recent publications and re-released selections in which I hope you can find at least one new song for your sacred repertoire.

DWCrouch, 7 June 2000

Almighty Father - J. Paul Williams & Benjamin Harlan

TTBB Glory Sound C5075 (1994/1999) $1.40

Positive:
--good text by Williams
--very melodic, flowing melody which repeats during the piece
--starts with unison tenor, then bass, then together before going into parts
--good key change
--tessitura good for all voices
--sounds much more difficult than it is
--many uses in a sacred repertoire

Some minor minuses:
--crossed tenor parts
--I don't like the last three measures: kind of a let down

Dry Bones - Traditional Spiritual arr. Mark Hayes

TTBB Alfred Publishing 19223 (2000) $1.65

Positive:
--great traditional melody with which all can identify
--added lyrics and music NOT in traditional arrangements: makes an interesting introduction to familiarity
--good accompaniment

Minor negatives:
--some tricky rhythms
--long!!!

Comment: Also may be used in a "pop" setting.


Grace - arr. Mark Hayes

TTBB Beckenhorst Press BP1599 (1993/2000) $1.65

Positive:
--familiar melody: "The Water Is Wide"
--starts with unison, to 2 part, and then gets very interesting
--the dissonance is not that difficult, but it will take time to learn
--very different, yet extremely interesting harmony parts, some bordering on blues or jazz
--this is one of those pieces which is well worth all the effort because it has so many uses: it would fit into almost any performance situation

Minus:
--this is an accompanist nightmare!! (Can you tell that Mark is a piano player?) Accompanists will need a page-turner, and perhaps one more hand.
--the dissonance (but I do think it is attainable)

A SECOND LOOK at "Grace" (23 Jan 2002)

I first reviewed this song in the group titled "On Your Way to Church..." Since then I have looked at it even more closely because of the many inquiries about it. I had selected this for my chorus to perform this year, and now after September 11, it is one of the best choices I've made. Here is a review that is slightly expanded from the original.

Grace - arr. Mark Hayes

TTBB Beckenhorst Press PB1599 (1993/2000) $1.65

Positive:
--familiar melody in two previous text uses: "The Water Is Wide" and "The Gift of Love"
--the text in this arrangement is a variation on "Amazing Grace," hence the title, and the strong relationship to the events of September 11
--both the melody and text will have very strong audience appeal
--for the older singer the appeal will come from both melody and text, while the younger singer will find the new, contemporary harmony very appealing
--very interesting harmony which at times borders on blues or jazz without losing the real folk quality of the melodic line
--it begins with unison, then to two part, then variations which make it interesting
--this is one of those pieces which is well worth all the effort because it has so many uses: it would fit into almost any performance situation

Minus:
--this is an accompanist nightmare!! (Can you tell that Mark is a piano player?)
--accompanists will need a page-turner, and perhaps one more hand
--there are a couple of spots where the accompaniment does get in the way of the singer, otherwise the accompaniment is very supportive
--the dissonance in the voice parts is not that difficult, or lengthy, but it will take extra time to learn

Recommendation:
Do consider this for your group this year, 2001-2002, and possibly for a Big Sing next year. I am also thinking of this song for the Common Repertoire. If you perform it, send me your opinion.

I Hear A Voice A-Prayin' - Houston Bright

TTBB Shawnee Press Inc. C-155 (1958) a cappella $.50 (I'm sure this has changed!)

Very Positive:
--this is one of the best spirituals you will find (I am surprised that so many directors don't know it)
--great melody line and parts
--singers and audiences both will like it very much
--very rhythmic
--basses get the part that really stands out (great fun, and they'll love it)
--it can be lowered a half or whole step if you want (I wouldn't put it any higher)

Some negatives:
--rhythms are tricky, but once you learn some basic patterns there will be no problems
--some divisi in baritone part (not needed, but can be done)
--a cappella (although it is such an upbeat song that pitch should take care of itself)

Comment: Also good in a "pop" type setting.

In This Very Room - Ron & Carol Harris

TTBB Shawnee Press, Inc. RH0245 (2001)

Positive:
--the text!
--very nice melody line which is passed around, both as a solo part and with harmony
--good interesting accompaniment: just enough to help, but not get in the way
--ascending chording is very effective
--ending is very effective

Negative:
--you will probably have to give a pitch before the accompaniment begins-- there are only 2 beats and you are "oo-ing"
--there are entrances where it would be nice to have a little more accompaniment help
--some dissonance may be a problem

Comment: This is just a great piece. I got it just two days ago, gave it a quick look, then had to stop and take a much closer look.

It Is Well With My Soul - Horatio G. Spafford & Philip P. Bliss/arr. by Robert Sterling

TTBB Glory Sound C5077 (1985/1999) $1.40

Plus:
--arrangements of familiar hymns
--good part writing with unison at the beginning, expanding to 4 (and 5) parts at the end.
--four key changes which are well written for the singers and make the song even more interesting to listen to
--very usable for a sacred setting: people will like it for the familiar tunes, and how it builds from simplicity at the beginning to a very broad ending

Minus:
--long
--the accompaniment sometimes gets in the way: a little too much
--some dissonance a little difficult until you get used to it

Just As I Am - arr. Alice Parker

TTBB Lawson-Gould (Alfred) 51360 ((1969) $1.10

Positive:
--old familiar melody re-released
--three verses, each treated differently
--possible Tenor II solo in second section
--nice contrasting accompaniment
--could use guitar instead of piano

Negatives:
--high tenor one part
--crossing tenor parts
--in 6/4: how to conduct?

Kyrie - James McCray

TBB (limited TTBB) Santa Barbara Publishing 112 (1995)

Positive:
--contemporary sound, which is not difficult to learn (limited dissonance)
--begins in unison, then two part, finally to three part (limited four part)
--nice contrasting center section
--very interesting accompaniment
--Latin text

Some negatives:
--Latin text
--accompaniment not always supportive of the voice parts

Comment: A good introduction to a contemporary sound -- if you have a place to perform it. Also a great introduction to Latin.

Let The Name Of The Lord Be Praised - Jack Schrader

TTBB Hope Publishing MM9015 (1993) $1.10
(Brass and percussion parts available)

Plus:
--starts with a strong unison before going into 2 parts, then 4 parts
--almost march style: a vigorous piece
--nice contrasting center section
--an exciting piece which we originally read in Buffalo, and sent out again by the publisher

Minus:
--a key change in the last section would have been a nice change
--high parts for everybody at the end (especially first tenor)

Let There Be Peace On Earth - Sy Miller & Jill Jackson arr. Jay Althouse

TBB Alfred Music 19175 (2000) $1.50

Plus:
--very familiar melody
--singers and audience both like this song
--a simple, straight forward arrangement in three parts
--limited, but very supportive, interesting accompaniment
--easy to learn if you don't have much time (plus only 3 parts)

Minus:
--not the big full sound that the Hawley Ades arrangement has (this is probably the arrangement most already have)
--there are 3 or 4 measures of awkward chording: you may want to make some changes

O God Of Love, O King Of Peace - Dale Grotenhuis

TTBB Mark Foster MF1031 (1999) $1.40

Positive:
--familiar text
--very melodic
--really usable in any sacred setting
--very nice rolling piano part
--Dale Grotenhuis is a real "singers composer"

A few problems:
--first tenor has several high A's--including the ending
--two sections unaccompanied, which means you had better be on pitch when the piano comes back in (or have the piano double the parts)

O Thou In Whose Presence - Joseph Swain/ arr. J. Harold Moyer

TTBB Ten. solo, Oboe & Guitar Mark Foster MF1015 (1988) $1.40

Plus:
--great arrangement of a Mennonite Hymn which is probably familiar most people
--beautiful, haunting melody
--good, straight four part harmony
--well worth the effort if you have the instruments and tenor solo

Big Minuses:
--needs a good, strong oboe
--could be done without guitar, but does need an oboist
--needs a very strong tenor soloist
--chorus will have to learn to listen for pitch with very different combination of instruments for the accompaniment

Comment: You MUST look at the accompaniment!

Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) from St. Cecilia Mass - Charles Gounod arr. by Dale Grotenhuis

TTBB parts for Bb or C insts. Mark Foster MF1101 (2000) $1.50

Positive:
--an old standby with a new arrangement for men's voices
--may have introductory soloist
--may (or may not) include instruments (parts included in octavo)
--English and Latin texts: your choice
--Dale Grotenhuis

Not so positive:
--long
--some of the triplets could be a problem when trying to keep them within the rhythmic tempo
--tiring score for the accompanist (lots of triplets)
--without instruments, the accompanist will have to make many adjustments

Sing Me To Heaven - Daniel E Gawthrop

TTBB divisi a cappella Dunstan House DH9603 (1996) $1.25

Positives:
--very nice contemporary melody--somewhat difficult at first
--great text
--I've done this with SATB and it was a great success with the singers and audience alike

Negative:
--this will be difficult to learn because of dissonance (but don't let it stop you) well worth the work if you have a place for it in your repertoire
--unaccompanied
--very high part for first tenor and it stays there for an extended time

Sov'reign Lord, Creator, Righteous One - Mary McDonald & Mike Harbin (Based on the tune THAXTED by Gustav Holst)

TTBB divisi Organ/Piano Accomp. Monarch Music 10/2411M (2000) $1.40

Positives:
--familiar melody (I think sung at Princess Diana's funeral)
--very appropriate for a funeral
--baritone and bass get to sing melody for a change
--starts unison, then two part and gradually to four part

Not so positive:
--in the accompaniment, some difficulty in using the piano instead of organ
--high first tenor part in one section
--some 8 part divisi at the end (pick a note, any note, and it should fit)

Wade In The Water - arr. Mark Hayes

TTBB Alfred 20182 (2001) $1.50

Very positive:
--familiar melody, but just enough little surprises to make it seem entirely new (a more contemporary sound)
--nice intro, then familiar melody
--key changes keep it interesting
--great accompaniment (blues, jazz style)
--optional solo parts
--looks hard, but really isn't

Few negatives:
--high first tenor
--some dissonance a problem, but once learned in one key, easy in the next

Comment: One of the best spiritual/gospel arrangements I've seen. I hope to use it with my chorus this year--church and pop settings.

Walk Dem Bones! - arr. Saundra Musser

3 Part Alfred 7734 (2000) $1.40

Positive:
--two familiar spirituals: Ezekiel Saw the Wheel & Dry Bones
--this is a fun piece with some added surprises (percussion, etc.)
--audience will love it
--easy to learn (like a 3 part round) if you need something fast
--very simple accompaniment, but enough to keep it going

Negatives:
--not sure which voice should sing which part: you need to check this and perhaps have sections change melodies
--maybe sounds a little junior high: but it will work in a very light atmosphere

Comment: Also good in a "pop" type situation.

What Wondrous Love Is This - Folk Hymn arr. J. Harold Moyer

TTBB a cappella Mark Foster MF1022 (1993) $1.40

Positive:
--very familiar melody
--a great many uses even with the sacred text
--very traditional, yet interesting harmony parts
--will have great audience appeal

A little minus:
--high first tenor at the end (could go down a half or whole step and still work for all parts)
--fairly long and sustained for an a cappella work (difficult to do correctly and stay in pitch)
--so many arrangments out that you may want to compare before selecting one if you don't already have it



DWCrouch, June 2001

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Since 8 Jun 2001