In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument
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Choral Arrangements from the South Seas
| Traditional songs from the South Seas arranged for harmony voices |
Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media
Displaying 1-7 of 7 items.
Australian Voices : A Cappella Songbook A collection of songs by The Australian Voices, this a cappella songbooks incorporates new songs by Australian-based composers with traditional folksongs. Songlist: Kalkadunga Yurdu, To An Early-Flowering Almond, Other Plans, The Keeper, Initialize, Diana, Stellar Mansions, To The Evening Star, The Facebook Song, Waltzing Matilda 
David Fanshawe : Pacific Song Premiered at the 2007 ACDA convention in Miami, this compelling work displays the result of Fanshawe's 10 year odyssey across the islands of the Pacific as it blends indigenous field recordings with live singers and instrumentalists. This is the double chorus edition and includes: Hulo hulo, Muli tu pe, 'Otuhaka. Songlist: Hulo Hulo, Muli Tu Pe, Otuhaka
Iain Grandage : Three Australian Bush Songs These songs use a musical language which is contemporary yet easily approachable by mixed voices choirs including those at the high school level. Its central "birdsong chorus" includes mixed meters, onomatopoeia, and improvised bird calls. The two outer movements surround this energetic paen with slow evocative harmonies describing respectively sunrise and sunset. The three titles are Dawn, Birds and Sunset. The parts sometimes divide. The musical language is "easy modern" and when sung together these form an effective set. Presented in workshop by Andre Thomas at the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis. Songlist: Dawn, Birds, Sunset
The Idea of North : A Cappella Arrangements 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: Amazing Grace, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Stephen Leek : Island Songs Three songs from the Torres Strait Islands to the north of Australia. The songs have been composed as adaptations of traditional songs and no attempt has been made to translate or interpret the text or language which these songs are traditionally sung but an attempt has been made to capture the essence and joy for singing which is central to the music making from this region. Includes Monkey and Turtle, Trade Winds and Morning Tide. Good for use in a high school choir or as a set of encore pieces for college or community choir. Songlist: Monkey and Turtle, Trade Winds, Morning Tide
Stephen Leek : Songs Of Passage Stephen Leek's famous work from Songs of Passage. "Ngana" means "shark" and the piece strikingly captures the driving energies, rhythms and vivid colors of the island seascape found around the northeastern tip of Australia. Pronounced "ungahyullyull" meaning "hawk dreaming". The text reflects the thoughts of the sheep farmer herding his sheep, ever aware of the hawk circling overhead. The second of Stephen Leek's Songs of Passage, this is a highly evocative and beautiful composition using easy but effective modern compositional techniques. The music includes "boxes" of material for singers to work through as well as traditionally scored sections. The writing is easy to sing though it contains some chord clusters. Some song texts in an Australian Aboriginal language, some in English. Lots of fun here! Songlist: Ngana, Ngayulyul, Coraparena, Ceduna, Tabulam
Stephen Leek : Aussie Songs "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 |
Displaying 1-36 of 36 items.
We are very proud to launch the Jace Saplan Indigenous Composer Series with two Hawaiian pieces, of which this is the first. It is not too often we get to sing music written by a king, and far too little Hawaiian music has been arranged for a cappella choir. The text is in Hawaiian and carries a message of love and appreciation. The second piece in the series is Mahalo Piha - be sure to read about that one too. They make a lovely programming pair.
Arranger: Megann Sala | Composer: King David Kalalaua | Country: Hawaii
From the new Henry Leck Creating Artistry Series, SONGS OF THE PACIFIC RIM, this three part treble arrangement of the familiar Hawaiian farewell song, Aloha 'Oe may be sung unison, two part or three parts. Traditionally, this song is sung at the ending of gatherings and special occasions a cappella. Performance Time: Approx. 2:25.
Arranger: Wanda Gereben | Country: Hawaii
It's Christmas Day the Aussie way, on a scorching summer afternoon by the barbie! Your singers will love this novelty change-of-pace as they travel down under to experience the holidays a different way! Totally fun!
Arranger: Roger Emerson | Country: Australia
From the Baz Luhrmann epic film Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, this tender ballad evokes themes of love and destiny against the grandeur of the Australian landscape. Available separately: SATB, SAB, SSA, ShowTrax CD. Duration: ca. 3:40.
Arranger: Ed Lojeski | Country: Australia | TV/Movie: Australia
This is the fourth title of Songs of Passage, the work which includes Ngana. "Ceduna" means "waterhole". The music includes "boxes" of material for singers to work through as well as traditionally scored sections.
Composer: Stephen Leek | Country: Australia
Celebrate Christmas the aloha way with this cheerful classic recently covered by Brian Setzer and his orchestra complete with ukuleles and Hawaiian guitars! A delightful change-of-pace! Available separately: SSAB, 2-Part, ShowTrax CD. Duration: ca. 2:15.
Arranger: Alan Billingsley | Composer: Lyle Moraine Performed By: Brian Setzer Orchestra | Country: Hawaii
Also from Songs of Passage, "coraparena" means "flat place". The writing is easy to sing though it contains some chord clusters.
Composer: Stephen Leek | Country: Australia
This nature-inspired poem celebrates our connection to the rising sun, incorporating equal parts English and Hawaiian text. Rhythmic and harmonic motives sound authentic throughout. Highly creative.
Composer: Ruth Morris Gray | Country: Hawaii
It's the instantly recognized theme from the incredibly popular TV show, now familiar to a new generation of fans in the 2010 version of the series. A great a cappella showcase for pop, jazz and show choirs, your singers will build performance skills and have fun in the process! Optional Vocal percussion. Duration: ca. 2:45.
Arranger: Roger Emerson | Country: Hawaii
Hang onto your surfboards! This Hawaiian-flavored song is the highlight of the Walt Disney Pictures' animated musical hit Lilo and Stitch. A Hawaiian pronunciation guide is included.Available separately: SATB, SAB, 2-Part and ShowTrax CD. Performance Time: Approx. 3:10.
Arranger: Mac Huff | Country: Hawaii | Musical: Lilo and Stitch
Oh, we're goin' to a hukilau! Get out the grass skirts and put on the colorful leis! This will be the hit of your concert when you have everyone performing the hula and the audience joining in on the chorus! (How about including your faculty and administrators?) Also included in this fun work are the hula choreography, interesting information on Hawaii, pronunciation and vocabulary guides, and reproducible lyrics for audience participation.
Arranger: Greg Gilpin | Country: Hawaii
This traditional Hawaiian chant was used when master canoe builders called for people to bring trees down from the mountains to the ocean side so that canoes could be built. Now set to music, the words teach us to stand up together and work as a team. An upbeat hook, a spoken word section, and a contrasting countermelody combine at the end to create the ultimate multicultural experience. Download the digital ChoreoTrax for even more fun!
Composer: Ruth Morris Gray | Country: Hawaii
A trip to Polynesia inspired Dave and Jean Perry to compose this authentic-sounding choral work based on the traditional rhythms and harmonies of the South Pacific. It's a cross-cultural number written especially for young and developing choral groups. There are opportunities for soloists on several brief, optional solos. Add percussion to make it even more genuine; percussion parts are included in the publication. Or use the lively SoundTrax CD. P.S.: "Ia Ora" means "hello." Included on Sally's "In the Spotlight!" Video, #19803.
Composer: Jean Perry | Country: Tahiti
Ka Hia Manu (Little Birds) pulls together chants and texts from various Polynesian and Micronesian islands. A metallic, brassy edge to the sound sets this Stephen Hatfield original apart from much of the standard choral repertoire. Think of the spontaneity of kids singing on a bus. Think of hand-woven fabric rather than cashmere. Duration: ca. 6:45.
Arranger: Stephen Hatfield | Country: Polynesia
The Kookaburra is a terrestrial tree kingfisher bird native to Australia. The distinctive and humorous call of the bird sounds like it is laughing, thus becoming the central subject to Marion Sinclair's 1932 nursery rhyme chronicling the life and times of the titular bird.
Composer: Marion Sinclair | Country: Australia
Vocal speech permeates this new rap-style arrangement by Jill Gallina. Direct from down under, this popular Australian nursery rhyme is full of fun. In addition, it is a great novelty piece to teach musical elements.
Arranger: Jill Gallina | Composer: Marion Sinclair | Country: Australia
In 1895, Queen Lili'uokalani lived under house arrest in her Iolani Palace for eight months. Not being allowed to communicate with anyone nor to receive visitors, the Queen was able to receive a bouquet of flowers brought to her each day. This song is a treasured favorite from the deep cultural heritage of Hawaii.
Arranger: Martin Ellis | Country: Hawaii
In this playful arrangement Chilcott skilfully combines the traditional Australian folksong with new words and music. The piece is simple, great fun, and transforms the choir into cackling kookaburras.
Composer: Bob Chilcott | Country: Australia
"I was thinking if I were a fish, what kind would I be?" Put on the colorful leis and get out the ukulele and synthesized steel drums for the little fish with the big Hawaiian name: the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (phonetically: hoo-moo-hoomoo-noo-koo-noo-koo-ah-poo-ah-ah). The humu humu, for short, is the unofficial state fish of Hawaii. Its name means "fish with a pig's snout" in Hawaiian, and is the longest name for a fish in that language. Your choir will have a blast singing the clever rhymes and catchy tune in authentic island style. From the pen of winning novelty writer Phyllis White comes a crowd-pleaser sure to get every underwater toe tapping!
Arranger: Phyllis White | Country: Hawaii
We are very proud to launch the Jace Saplan Indigenous Composer Series with two Hawaiian pieces, of which Mahalo Piha - a medley of The Queen's Jubilee and Aloha 'Oe - is the second. The music was composed by Queen Lili'uokalani, and the text is in Hawaiian (with the exception of a single poignant English phrase, one fond embrace, until we meet again). This is a lovely concert closer. The first piece in the series is Akahi Ho'i - be sure to read about that one too. They make a wonderful programming pair.
Arranger: Justin Ka'upu | Composer: Queen Lili'uokalani | Country: Hawaii
Grass skirts and coconuts, anyone? Now your men can get in on the act with this popular Hawaiian Christmas greeting, featured on Bette Midler's album Cool Yule.
Arranger: Jay Althouse | Composer: R. Alex Anderson Performed By: Bette Midler | Country: Hawaii
This is one of hundreds of songs composed by Queen Lili'uokalani, last of the ruling monarchs of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This song demonstrates her poetic skills in which romantic love, love of nature and love of the land are happily entwined. This setting was written for the popular Pacific Rim Choral Festival which takes place in Hawaii each summer.
Arranger: Nola Nahulu | Country: Hawaii
Stephen Leek's famous work from Songs of Passage. "Ngana" means "shark" and the piece strikingly captures the driving energies, rhythms and vivid colors of the island seascape found around the northeastern tip of Australia. Ngana was commissioned by Graeme Morton's St. Peters Chorale.
Composer: Stephen Leek | Country: Australia
Pronounced "ungahyullyull" meaning "hawk dreaming". The text reflects the thoughts of the sheep farmer herding his sheep, ever aware of the hawk circling overhead. The second of Stephen Leek's Songs of Passage, this is a highly evocative and beautiful composition using easy but effective modern compositional techniques. Commissioned by Graeme Morton's St Peters Chorale.
Composer: Stephen Leek | Country: Australia
British composer David de Warrenne has arranged this traditional Maori work for mixed voices and piano with solo. This piece would make a marvelous graduation anthem. Difficulty Level: Medium Adult.
Arranger: David de Warrenne | Country: New Zealand
The Henry Leck Creating Artistry series is pleased to release an outstanding selection of music from countries in the Pacific Rim. This work, a Maori folksong, is arranged for 2-part voices with guitar (or piano) and an obbligato for two flutes. The simple beauty of the melody is enhanced with simple answering echoes make this an excellent feature for young voices. Performance Time: Approx. 3:00.
Arranger: Mark O'Leary | Country: New Zealand
"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".
Composer: Stephen Leek | Country: Australia
Another in the Songs of Passage set, "tabulam" means "my home". This song captures the energy and life of music-making from the north of Australia where part-singing is joyous, spontaneous and often improvised. The writing is lush, rich and repetitive.
Composer: Stephen Leek | Country: Australia
What a fantastic and dynamic change of pace for any concert! A Maori (New Zealand) proverb is presented both in chant and in song with great multicultural rhythms and fun-to-sing echoes. Featured on Showbiz! choral movement DVD (#00-35858).
Arranger: Sally K. Albrecht | Composer: Sally K. Albrecht | Country: New Zealand
Three short lullabies: Ili, Ili, Tulog Anay (Sleep, Little One) from the Philippines; E Hii Lei E (I Hold Thee, My Baby) from Hawaii; and Taoto Bebe (Sleep Baby) from Tahiti, have been tastefully arranged and are appropriate for a broad spectrum of treble groups. A splendid addition to multicultural repertoire. Also available: SSA.
Arranger: Linda Spevacek | Country: Polynesia
Three Tongan Legends is a tour de force of exotic inventiveness! Pann not only wrote the story and choral text, he also created an original language with South Pacific flavor, to maximize the relationship between phonetic sonorities and the musical flow. The three movements are titled: I. Klaa Ma (song for the infinite sky), II. Kanokaa do! (a hunting song), and III. Dalle ma nabonu (song for the dead).
Arranger: Carter Pann | Country: Polynesia
Here's a traditional canoe song from Polynesia that sounds quite impressive with just two voice parts, handclaps, and percussion instruments. The echo format of Greg's well-designed arrangement suggests people communicating from canoe to canoe as they travel between islands.
Arranger: Greg Gilpin | Country: Polynesia
"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.
Composer: Stephen Leek | Country: Australia
This traditional Maori song encourages us to seek knowledge and unity. In the Waita a ringa or action song style, this edition includes the movement suggestions. Performance Time: Approx. 2:00.Available separately: 2-Part and VoiceTrax CD.
Arranger: Henry Leck | Country: New Zealand
Emily John, harpist and elementary choral director, offers us an absolutely delightful setting of this absurd and playful nursery rhyme. Selected for the Judith Herrington Choral Series, historical and performance notes are provided. The nonsensical words which are part of the folk song add to the fun.
Composer: Emily John | Country: Australia
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