New A Cappella Songbooks and Sheet Music Arrangements

Cantabile - The London Quartet : A Festival of Carols in Two Minutes

Review:

Songlist: A Festival of Carols in Two Minutes

Cantabile - The London Quartet : The Great British A Cappella Songbook

Review: The Great British A Cappella Songbook features a collection of the London Quartet's favourite songs arranged for SATB Ð these songs are a celebration of all things British. Cantabile has long been recognized to be one of Britain's great vocal groups. They have appeared in a huge variety of venues, singing programmes encompassing early polyphony through to jazz and contemporary music, and have released many albums.

Songlist: Pastime With Good Company, Greensleeves, Oranges and Lemons, Myfanwy, Danny Boy "I Would be True" (Londenderry Air), A Man's a Man for A' That, Pomp and Circumstance March Number 4, A Foggy Day, Lullaby (Hush, Macushla)

Deke Sharon : Swingin' A Cappella

Review: Based on the Nat 'King' Cole classic big band recording, this arrangement of 'Orange Colored Sky' stacks a swingin' close harmony quartet on a walking vocal bass with soprano lead (either section or solo). Plenty of syncopated rhythms and playful background lyrics make this very fun to sing. The center 'instrumental' section allows you to feature a quartet of your most impressive part singers. The a cappella arrangement of 'Come Fly With Me' takes the listener on a trip around the world on the wings of one of Frank Sinatra's most iconic songs. Walking bass and playful background parts support a swingin' solo. Vocal percussion optional. Sinatra would get a kick this playful version of his swing classic 'I Get a Kick Out of You', featuring a tenor soloist and a 'vocal string bass' scat solo break. With 'Sing, Sing, Sing' you'll swear you hear an entire big band coming out of your voices in this lyricless take on Benny Goodman's classic recording. Not so easy to sing, but very impressive when all put together and a huge crowd pleaser. No solo, melodic lines move from part to part. vocal percussion is optional.

Songlist: Sing, Sing, Sing, Come Fly With Me, I Get a Kick Out of You, Orange Colored Sky

Eric Whitacre : Water Night

Review: Eric Whitacre has become a musical sensation across the globe. This inspiring collection presents a mixture of sacred and secular choral pieces from his chart-topping second album Water Night, published here for the first time.

Songlist: Alleluia, Oculi omnium, Her sacred spirit soars, Water Night, When David heard, Sleep my child

Idea of North : A Cappella Arrangements

Review: Winners of the Harmony Sweepstakes National Finals the Australian quartet The Idea of North is one of the most highly regarded vocal jazz groups performing today. 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee' is an old gospel song arranged in a swing, trad jazz style and features each performer with solo sections. It has quasi instrumental parts to sing including trumpet, trombone and even banjos! Originally inspired from the movie sound track, 'White Men Can't Jump' this fun arrangement is sure to leave your audience wanting more. 'Amazing Grace' and 'Sweet Sweet Spirit' retain their gospel meaning and flavor while given the wonderful vocal jazz treatment from the talented arranger Andrew Piper. These arrangements are all highly recommended!

Songlist: When She Loved Me, Amazing Grace, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Jay Althouse : Classic Jazz A Cappella

Review: Here's a collection of three song each from three of the greatest songwriters of the classic jazz song - Gershwin, Porter and Ellington. Highly-regarded arranger Jay Althouse offers some stunning, tight, and tasty harmonies for unaccompanied mixed voices that can be performed separately or as three different sets by composer.

Songlist: Night and Day , Just One Of Those Things, You Do Something to Me, Satin Doll, Solitude, It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Nice Work If You Can Get It, I Got Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me

Larry Pugh : Just for the Guys at Christmas

Review: Eight Reproducible Choral Works for the Emerging TB Chorus. Like its namesake predecessor, 'Just for the Guys at Christmas' presents eight exceptional and best-selling titles not previously available in a TB voicing--this time featuring holiday repertoire--in a cost-saving reproducible format. For just over $5 per title, your purchase includes the non-transferable right to make a personal copy of the music for each singer, no matter how big your choir--both now and for years to come--plus a helpful accompaniment CD. The featured titles include the music some of today's best educational choral composers, making this unique collection both practical and a great resource for TB holiday repertoire.

Songlist: Cantate Hodie! (Sing Today), Noel, Noel , Whatcha Gonna Call That Baby?, Beautiful December, African Noel, A La Nanita Nana , Riu, Riu, Chiu, Have a Merry One!

Mollie Stone & Patty Cuyler : Music From the Republic of Georgia

Review: Twelve traditional 3-part folk songs from the Republic of Georgia, for mixed, youth and adult choirs. Book with scores, pronunciation guide, performance guidelines and background information, and accompanying DVD with performance and pronunciation video. In addition to the book and teaching DVD is access to an online resource site with source recording downloads and video links.

Songlist: Aragvisp'iruli Lashkruli, Bail-betkil, Chela, Deda Mogik'vdesa, Imeruli Mgzavruli, Lemchil, Megruli Alilo, Rachuli Nana, Shari-shuri, Tselo Mousvi Balakhsa, Ts'mindeo Ghmerto, Uts'inares Mas Vadidebt

Mollie Stone & Patty Cuyler : Traditional Choral Music From South Africa Vol 2

Review: Six South African songs for SATB or treble choir. Teaching DVD with voice parts, dance movements, pronunciation tracks and performances. Book includes tips for teaching and performing, pronunciation guide, background information for the songs and more. In addition to the book and teaching DVD is access to an online resource site with source recording downloads and video links.

Songlist: Likhon' ithemba lam, Re dibini, Ndisondela Kuwe, Swilo yini, Sesimfumene, Iindonga za Jeriko

Paul J. Christiansen : Beautiful the Sky: Four Scandinavian Carols

Review: Beautiful the Sky is a collection of beloved Scandinavian Christmas anthems by Paul J. Christiansen, edited by his son Erik Christiansen. These gorgeous settings evoke a sense of their homeland and would stand as beautiful additions to your church's Christmas worship service or concert program. The texts are presented in both English and the original language.

Songlist: Christmas Comes Again, This Happy Christmas, Joyous Christmas Song, Oh, How Beautiful the Sky

Philip Lawson (editor) : A German Renaissance Christmas

Review: Fill your performance space with the glory of a German Renaissance Christmas with selections from this outstanding collection! Mixed choruses from high school through professional will appreciate the clean, well-edited editions.

Songlist: Angelus Ad Pastorem, Dixit Maria, Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming, Maria Wallt Zum Heiligtum, Singt Und Klingt (Psallite Unigenito)

Stephen Leek : Aussie Songs

Review: "Kumbargung" - One of the easiest and most immediately appealing from Stephen Leek's In Construction series. It is suitable for singers of all ages and uses indigenous Australian words that are spoken in rhythm at various pitch levels. "Kumbargung" means "night" and other evocative words include "ungi gungi" (grasshopper) and "goolay yali" (pelican). A delight for all ages! "Tunggare" means "voice" or "to sing" in an Australian dialect. This is a wonderful opening or closing to a concert. There is much repetition and very easy tenor and bass parts, so it is perfect for a high school choir (and other choirs as well!). It may also be used as a choral piece for audience participation. "Riawanna" is an Australian native word for "circles" and the piece is a do-it-yourself round with thousands of possibilities. It includes mixed meters. The final instruction in the accompanying notes says it all: "have fun".

Songlist: Kumbargung, Riawanna, Tunggare

Various Arrangers : A Cappella Spirituals for Female Voices

Review: 'Bright Mansions' - This SSAA setting displays K. Lee Scott's adaptability. His command of vocal writing is excellent, and his arranging style is never overdone. A refined reserve to his technique make this an elegant spiritual setting for high school, college and church treble choirs. 'Hold On!' - Stacey Gibbs wants to 'bring life' to the spiritual for use in the concert hall. This arrangement confirms why his arrangements are so popular: the rhythms and harmonies are fun to sing and he builds things up to a rousing finish. This arrangement for women's voices reminds us to 'keep your hand on the plow as you climb higher and higher...just hold on.' 'Keep Your Lamps' - Here is the traditional spiritual in a contemporary and dramatic setting for women's unaccompanied voices, opening with a beginning unison melody, performed in a slow, heavy manner. When the tempo picks up, the melody is supported by the other voices and a recurring rhythmic groove that adds to the urgency of the text. 'Shout All Over God's Heaven' - Let your women's choir loose in this swinging spiritual! It is easy and fun to sing, building to an impressive ending. A good closer or encore in your concert program!

Songlist: Nothin' Gonna Stumble My Feet, Bright Mansions, Over My Head, Hold On!, Keep Your Lamps, Shout All Over God's Heaven

Various Arrangers : Les Miserables A Cappella

Review: First a book, then a Broadway musical and now a hit movie. Now available in a powerful a cappella setting Bring Him Home, the anguished prayer from Les MisŽrables, is a poignant expression of the romance and turmoil in this monumental musical epic. An ideal selection for jazz, pop and concert choirs from high school and up. The lush a cappella setting of the powerful ballad I Dreamed A Dream is memorable and will surely be a concert favorite. Eponine sings of her unrequited love for the Marius, and how she dreams of being with him in On My Own. The rich harmonies in this unaccompanied setting will enhance any program.

Songlist: Bring Him Home, On My Own, I Dreamed A Dream

Various Arrangers : Modern Pop Vol 2

Review: 'Firework' - Ben Bram is known for his work on The Sing-Off and Pitch Perfect, and for arranging for groups such as The Backbeats and Pentatonix. This wellcrafted treatment of the Katy Perry hit will make your pop a cappella group come alive. 'Some Nights' - This powerful anthem by the Grammy-award winning pop group FUN. became the band's second top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and has been featured on Glee. The intense lyrics explore the meaning of life, using war as a metaphor for the struggle between good and evil. Creatively arranged, pairing a strong a cappella choir with martial snare and bass drums. 'Forget You' - This Grammy-nominated hit by Cee Lo Green is perfect for pop a cappella groups. With a rhythmic groove supporting a soloist, this one really kicks!

Songlist: Firework, Some Nights, Forget You

Various Arrangers : Vocal Jazz for Womens Voices

Review: A great collection of vocal jazz arrangements by some of the best arrangers in the genre. Bette Midler's sass is captured in this fast, furious and fun arrangement by Deke Sharon of Cole Porter's Miss Otis Regrets. Andrew Sisters-esque 3 part melody above a walking bass line punctuated by brassy horn (vocal) passages. A great 'Story Song', works well as a closer or encore. The Thelonius Monk ballad 'Round Midnight' most recently featured in the movie of the same name. This arrangement starts with 'wind' sounds, a rubato intertwing introduction, then spotlights tense cluster voicings supporting a female soloist throughout. With imaginative reharmonizations, yet good voice leading, this chart is extremely effective and accessible. 'For All We Know' - A lush four-voice a cappella ballad for soprano soloist. The inclusion of the verse at the end is inspired by Mark Murphy's rendition. Commissioned by the New York-based chorus Women Singing, the Scottish folk song 'The Skye Boat Song' is written to evoke images of the stark beauty of the Highlands. The melody that tells the legend of Bonnie Prince Charlie is supported by water ripples and wind that the background voices weave together. In the middle section, the story is told by a narrator. Take a journey through the poetic landscape with rich harmony and soaring lines.

Songlist: The Skye Boat Song, For All We Know, Round Midnight, Miss Otis Regrets

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