Classroom Vocal

Cornelius, P. n. d. Ein ton (What sound is this?), op. 3 no. 3.
The vocal soloist sings the same pitch 80 times. Music theory buffs, see if you can identify the 3 minor chords, 2 major chords, 3 major-minor sevenths, 1 diminished seventh, and 1 half-diminished seventh with which the piano accompanist harmonizes this one pitch, In the following "An den Traum," op. 3 no. 4, one tone is repeated in the piano accompaniment.
A free pdf download is available here or here.

A translation of this song reads:

I hear a tone so wondrous rare;
It fills my heart, 'tis ever there.
Ah, can it be the last faint breath
That stirr'd thy pallid lips ere death?
Is it the tender monotone
Of church bell which for thee made moan?
Lo, still it comes so full, so clear,
As though thy soul were floating near,
As though with love and yearning deep,
You sang my bitter pain to sleep!

Dvorak, A. 1894. Biblical songs, op. 99. New York: G. Schirmer.
Not many famous composers write for unison chorus and piano, but this is an exception. No. 10, entitled "Sing ye a joyful song," is 4 pages long and contains pying's only on the last page. If you wish to eliminate the pying's, you can do so by making a very easy cut.

Falwell, A. 1905. The lone prairee. Reprinted in Lawrence, V. G., ed. 1970. The Wa-Wan Press: 1901-1911. New York: Arno Press, Vol. 3: 48-49.


Fisher, W. A. 1926. Seventy Negro spirituals. Boston: Oliver Ditson.
For voice and piano. Contains "Every time I feel the spirit" on pages 39-42.

Gottschalk, L. F. (Gardner, M. H., lyrics). 1904. Merry songs for little folks. Philadelphia: Theodore Presser.


I don't actually expect you to use this, I am merely including this as an item of interest.
I see this as a shocking example of what at one time was considered tasteful humor.

Joiner, D. 1977. A pentatonic travelogue: Through holidays, moods and seasons. n. p.
Just the thing for the teacher who has trouble finding songs for any holiday besides Christmas. Suggested Orff ostinati are included.

Kodaly, Z. [1932] 1952. Hungarian folk music. London: Universal Edition.
For voice and piano. "Shades of Eve" is in volume 5 on pages 18-19.

_____. [1941] 1972. 333 reading exercises. London: Boosey & Hawkes.
Recommended for any vocal or instrumental student.
In fact, when I was taking voice lessons, I used these exercises on my own.
The exercises are written on a single line, in solfege notation for some exercises and in conventional notation for others.
The exercises are categorized according to tone row.
Recorder teachers may be especially interested in pages 1-3 and 8, which, if played in G major, are playable with the fingers of the left hand. However, a teacher following the Choksy sequence would not be able to use any of the exercises in the beginning stages.

_____. 1954. 24 little canons on the black keys. London: Boosey & Hawkes.
In solfege notation. Since my own students have found songs in the Taylor & Dyk (1977) collection more easily approachable,
I would suggest postponing use of this collection until later.

_____. 1970. 100 little marches. London: Boosey & Hawkes.
In solfege notation. Preferably for pentatonic wooden xylophone, but feasible on any other instrument.

Lewis, A. G. 1986. Five little notes (la so mi re do). Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Plymouth Music Co., Inc.
Amusing piece for 2-part treble chorus and piano.

Loomis, H. W. 1902. Hark! Hark! The lark. Reprinted in Lawrence 1970 Vol 1: 59-62.
One would not expect to find the pentatonic mode in a Shakespeare setting, but here, such is the case.


Miller, C. C. 2001. Pentatonic partners: Songs and activities for the music classroom. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corp.
Contains an original song entitled "Pentatonic Partners," for two contrapuntal treble choral parts and piano.

Orff, C. & Keetman, G. (Hall, D. & Walter, A., transl.) 1982. Music for children. 5 vol. vol 1: Pentatonic. Mainz: B. Schott's Sohne.
The book begins with the collection of folk songs with ostinato accompaniments, for which the Orff method is best known.
These folk songs are sequenced much as Choksy would sequence them.
Some of the items are easily feasible without investing hundreds of dollars in Orff instruments. A few short two-part instrumental pieces is on page 48. Spoken numbers involving body rhythm or two parts are on pages 70-73. Echo clapping numbers are on pages 80-81. Rhythmic canons are on page 82. Melodic canons start on page 83.

Rimsky-Korsakov, N. 1979. Complete works of Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov. Melville, NY: Belwin-Mills.
100 Folk Songs with Piano Accompaniment is in volume 47.
"It is fallin, fallin, winter's first lovely snowfall" is on page 32.

Robertson, T. 2011. Teacher dear.
Musical play for a kindergarten, after-school, or small private school.
The story takes place in the school or center, so there should be very little expense in terms of costumes, scenery, or props.
Besides the children, the teacher and van driver make cameo appearances.
Lasts about 20-25 minutes.
Available in pdf format here.

_____. 2011. Variations on poems by Edward Lear. For SB chorus and piano.
Lasts about 9 minutes.
Available in pdf format here.

_____. 2011. Rondo on poems by Emily Dickinson.
Lasts about 12 minutes.
Available in pdf format here.

Seward, T. F. & Unseld, B. C. 1880. The tonic sol-fa music reader: A course of instruction and practice in the tonic sol-fa m,ethod of teaching singing, with choice a collection of music suitable for day schools and singing schools. New York: Biglow & Main: 4-14.
The first section, in which do, mi, so, and do are taught, is available here.
The second section introduces the students to re and ti.

Sharp, C. & Karpeles, M. 1968. 80 Appalachian folk songs. Winchester, MA: Faber & Faber.
Contains arrangements of "The frog and the mouse" and "What's little babies made of?" by Benjamin Britten.

Warren, J. 1983. Piggyback songs: New songs sung to the tune of childhood favorites. Everett, WA: Totline Press.
These three books by Jean Warren are collections of new lyrics to familiar songs.
Some were written by the author, some were submitted by other teachers, day care workers, and recreational leaders. They contain songs for all occasions, including seasons and holidays.
Each book contains numerous treatments of familiar pentatonic songs.
For example, this book contains 15 treatments of Mary Had a Little Lamb.
The author has a great Website right here.
Incidentally, Barney Dinosaur's closing song was borrowed from this book.

_____. 1984. More piggyback songs: New songs sung to the tune of childhood favorites. Everett, WA: Totline Press.

_____. 1985. Piggyback songs for infants and toddlers: New songs sung to the tune of childhood favorites. Everett, WA: Totline Press.
Although this book is written especially for preschoolers, many of the songs are applicable to older children also.

Whitney, R. 1996. A pentatonic alleluia.
Published for treble voices. Men sing the parts an octave lower than written.
Score available here.
Video available here.

Yannatos, J. n. d. Silly and serious songs: On the words of children. 4 vol. Cambridge, MA: Sonory Publications.
The songs come with simple accompaniments. The melodies, many of which are pentatonic, are by the author. It is good that the lyrics are by children, but it would be even better if the melodies were also by children.

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