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All The Pretty Little Horses

Traditional American Folk Song

The origin of this song is not fully known. The song is commonly thought to be of African-American origin. The author Lyn Ellen Lacy is often quoted as the primary source for the theory that suggests the song was "originally sung by an African American slave who could not take care of her baby because she was too busy taking care of her master's child. She would sing this song to her master's child". However, Lyn's book Art and Design in Children's Books is not an authority on the heritage of traditional American folk songs, but rather a commentary on the art and design in children's literature. Still, some versions of "All the Pretty Little Horses" contain added lyrics that make this theory a possibility.

One such version of "All the Pretty Little Horses" is provided in Alan Lomax's book American Ballads and Folksongs, though he makes no claim of the song's African-American origins. "Way down yonder, In de medder, There's a po' lil lambie, De bees an' de butterflies, Peckin' out its eyes, De po' lil lambie cried, "Mammy!""[2] Another version contains the lyrics "Buzzards and flies, Picking out its eyes, Pore little baby crying".[3] The theory would suggest that the lyrics "po' lil lambie cried, "Mammy"" is in reference to the slaves who were often separated from their own families in order to serve their owners. However, this verse is very different from the rest of the lullaby, suggesting that the verse may have been added later or has a different origin than the rest of the song. The verse also appears in the song "Ole Cow" and older versions of the song "Black Sheep, Black Sheep"


Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-8 of 8 items.


Chanticleer : Silver Jubilee Anthology : TTBB : Songbook : Joseph Jennings : 08763200

Chanticleer : Silver Jubilee Anthology

To commemorate their twenty-fifth anniversary, Chanticleer has put together an anthology of some of their favorite songs. Edited by Matthew Oltman and conductor Joseph Jennings, this book is comprised of pieces from the Renaissance through the twentieth century. Selections include "Vox in rama" by Palestrina, "Fuggi, fuggi, dolor" by William Hawley and "There is a Balm in Gilead" arranged by Joseph Jennings. The book includes notes and translations for the pieces as well as performance suggestions. Also featured is a section of pictures of the group from the past twenty-five years.

Songlist: Vox in Rama, Hear My Prayer, O Lord, Credidi, So ben mi ch'a bon tempo, Voices of Autumn, Fuggi, fuggi, dolor, from Tre Rime di Tasso, Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind, Coventry Carol, Two Medieval Lyrics, Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair, Nelly Bly, All The Pretty Little Horses, Dulaman, An Oiche, Lost In The Stars, There Is A Balm In Gilead, Keep Your Hand On the Plow, There is no rose of such virtue

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Voicing: TTBB | Performed by Chanticleer | 7007b | Songbook | $19.95 | A Cappella


Emily Crocker / John Leavitt : Essential Musicianship - Level Three Teacher Edition : SATB : Songbook : Emily Crocker : 073999401073 : 0793543541 : 08740107

Emily Crocker / John Leavitt : Essential Musicianship - Level Three Teacher Edition

ESSENTIAL MUSICIANSHIP is a sequential comprehensive curriculum that is designed to build all the skills of a choral musician. It includes Voice-builders, Theory-Builders, Sight-Reading exercises and songs which can be used for classroom or concert. The easy-to-use format allows the books to be used with all types of choir: mixed, treble or tenor bass.

Songlist: All People On Earth Do Dwell, All The Pretty Little Horses, Amazing Grace, An' Thou Wert My Ain Thing, Antiphonal Alleluia, Aura Lee, Awake, Arise!, Benedictus, Bound For The Promised Land, Canon, Cape Cod Girls, The Colorado Trail, Confitemini Domino, Da Pacem, Domine, Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron, Deck The Hall, Down By The Riverside, Faith And Hope And Love, Fine Knacks For Ladies, Gloria!, Goin' Round The Mountain, Golden Slumbers, Good Night Ladies, Greensleeves, The Gypsy Rover, Hi-Ho The Holly, I Know Where I'm Goin', Illumina Oculos Meos, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, Kumbaya, and more

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Voicing: SATB | 1816b | Songbook | $19.95


Various Arrangers : American Folksongs for Female Voices : SSAA : Sheet Music Collection

Various Arrangers : American Folksongs for Female Voices

"Poor Lonesome Cowboy" is an original arrangement by Norman Luboff of this famous cowboy's lament. "All The Pretty Little Horses" is a traditional Southeastern American folksong featuring canonic imitation, vocal ostinati, and delicately intertwining melodies, this a cappella setting is stunning. "Sacramento - Sis Joe" is a wiry, spiky combination of two American folk songs; one very well-known; one somewhat obscure. The better known is Stephen Foster's "Camptown Races" but it's appearance here, however, is with a completely different text that captures the excitement of a mid-1800's trip to California in search of gold! "Sis Joe" is a traditional railroad song that was used by Aaron Copland in "Rodeo".

Songlist: Poor Lonesome Cowboy, Sacramento Sis Joe, All The Pretty Little Horses

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Voicing: SSAA | 8015b | Sheet Music Collection | $4.95 | A Cappella


Richard Johnston (editor) : Folk Songs North America Sings : Solo : Songbook : 073999809046 : 1458424871 : 50480904

Richard Johnston (editor) : Folk Songs North America Sings

This superb 382-page resource contains more than 350 North American folk songs, carefully sequenced both rhythmically and melodically for use with the Kodály method, which is based on authentic Hungarian folk music. The collection features information about solfege, form, phrase, length, range, rhythmic construction, and more.

Songlist: Jubilee, 1 2 3, Ah Vous Dirai-Je, Maman? (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star), Animal Song, Frog Went A-Courtin', Poor Wayfaring Stranger, Christus Natus Hodie, Goodbye, Old Paint, All The Pretty Little Horses, Let Me Fly, Cumberland Gap, On Springfield Mountain, Jesus Born In Beth'ny, Alphabet Song, I Wonder As I Wander, Daddy Shot A Bear, Down In The Valley, Soldier Boy, Little Bird, Skip To My Lou, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Pretty Saro, London Bridge, The Farmer In The Dell, Hickory Dickory Dock, I Got A Letter This Morning, Riding In A Buggy, Awake, (Go Tell Aunt Rhody) The Ole Grey Goose Is Dead, and more

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Voicing: Solo | 2577b | Songbook | $49.00 | Voice and Piano


Various : 25 Folksong Solos for Children : Solo : Songbook & Online Audio : 888680102401 : 149505411X : 00154679

Various : 25 Folksong Solos for Children

Folksongs especially arranged for a child's solo voice (including a unchanged boy's treble voice), with a limited range, designed to encourage lyric singing, and easy piano accompaniments. Contents: All the Pretty Little Horses - Animal Fair - Annabel Lee - The Ash Grove - Bill Grogan's Goat - Cradle Song - Every Night When the Sun Goes In -Father's Whiskers - The Generous Fiddler - How Can I Keep from Singing - Hush, Little Baby - The Lark in the Morn - Little Brown Dog - The Mermaid - My White Horse - On Mondays I Never Go to Work - Poor Lonesome Cowboy - The Red River Valley - Scarborough Fair - Shenandoah - Simple Gifts - The Streets of Laredo - Sweet the Evening Air of May - Tell Me Why - The Water Is Wide.

Songlist: Simple Gifts, All The Pretty Little Horses, Kehto Laula (Cradle Song), Water Is Wide, The Mermaid, The Generous Fiddler, Animal Fair, Tell Me Why, The Ash Grove, The Red River Valley, Mi Caballo Blanco (My White Horse), How Can I Keep From Singing, Bill Grogan's Goat, Scarborough Fair, Shenandoah, The Streets Of Laredo, Annabel Lee, Hush, Little Baby, Every Night When The Sun Goes Down, Poor Lonesome Cowboy, Lark In The Morning, Little Brown Dog, On Mondays I Never Go To Work, Father's Whiskers, Sweet The Evening Air Of May

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Voicing: Solo | 4335b | Songbook & Online Audio | $14.95 | Voice and Piano


Various : The Big Book of Folksongs : Solo : Songbook : 884088633721 : 1458421155 : 00312549

Various : The Big Book of Folksongs

A comprehensive collection of over 120 folk favorites, including: All Night, All Day - The Banana Boat Song - Cotton Eyed Joe - Down by the Salley Gardens - Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping?) - How Can I Keep from Singing - John Henry - Man of Constant Sorrow - O Happy Day - Pop Goes the Weasel - Somebody's Knockin' at Your Door - Three Blind Mice - and many more.

Songlist: I Know Where I'm Goin', The Lark In The Clear Air, I Never Will Marry, Tom Dooley, I've Got Peace Like A River, The Banana Boat Song, Somebody's Knockin' At Your Door, Soon I Will Be Done (Trouble Of The World), Steal Away (Steal Away To Jesus), Simple Gifts, The Lonesome Road, Goodbye, Old Paint, All Night, All Day, All The Pretty Little Horses, The Bamboo Flute, Ein Prosit Der Gemutlichkeit (To All Good Cheer), Krakowiak (Darling Maiden, Hark, I Ask Thee), Great Day, Down By The Sally Gardens, Siyahamba (We Are Marching In The Light Of God), O Tannenbaum, Water Is Wide, O Happy Day, 'Tis The Last Rose Of Summer, We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder, Mrs. Murphy's Chowder, Animal Fair, And The Green Grass Grows All Around, Follow The Drinkin' Gourd, Aupres De Ma Blonde (Nearby To My Dear One), and more

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Voicing: Solo | 10252b | Songbook | $24.95 | PVG


Various Arrangers : American Folksongs & Spirituals : Solo : Songbook : 073999207965 : 0793559219 : 00310138

Various Arrangers : American Folksongs & Spirituals

75 songs of American heritage, including: All The Pretty Little Horses - Arkansas Traveler - Aura Lee - Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - The Blue Tail Fly - Buffalo Gals (Won't You Come Out Tonight) - Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie - Cotton Eyed Joe - Deep River - Down In The Valley - The Drunken Sailor - Git Along, Little Doggies - Home On The Range - Hush, Little Baby - I've Been Working On The Railroad - Joshua (Fit The Battle Of Jericho) - Never Said A Mumblin' Word - Oh! Susanna - Old Joe Clark - The Red River Valley - She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain - Shenandoah - Simple Gifts - Steal Away - The Streets Of Laredo - Wayfaring Stranger - and many more!

Songlist: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Poor Wayfaring Stranger, The Wabash Cannon Ball, Somebody's Knockin' At Your Door, Soon I Will Be Done (Trouble Of The World), Steal Away (Steal Away To Jesus), This Little Light Of Mine, Simple Gifts, The Lonesome Road, All My Trials, All The Pretty Little Horses, Frankie And Johnny, Deep River, Down In The Valley, Skip To My Lou, Turkey In The Straw, Animal Fair, Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen, When The Saints Go Marching In, Arkansas Traveler, Home On The Range, I've Been Working On The Railroad, Yankee Doodle Boy, Aura Lee, Standin' In The Need Of Prayer (Standing In The Need Of Prayer), Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, There Is A Balm In Gilead, The Red River Valley, John Henry, Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me, and more

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Voicing: Solo | 20381b | Songbook | $17.95 | PVG


St. Louis Children's Choir : Spring Concerts 2004 : 1 CD : Barbara Berner

St. Louis Children's Choir : Spring Concerts 2004

This CD includes highlights from the 2004 Spring Concerts, recorded live at Manchester United Methodist Church on May 16, 2004. The Artistic Director remains Barbera Berner, who took on the position in 1996. 2004 was a greatyear for the SLCC, as they performed internationally and in venues such as The White House and Carnegie Hall.

Songlist: Simple Song, Living In A Holy City, The Lake Isle Of Innisfree, All The Pretty Little Horses, Nursery Rhyme Nonsense, The Lily And The Rose, Ching A Ring Chaw, Little Bird -, I Had A Little Nut Tree, Tiritomba, The Poet Sings, Set Me As A Seal, This Is The Day, Prayer For The Earth, My Own Song, How Much Wood Would A Woodchuck Chuck, Blessing, Elijah Rock, The Passionate Shepard to His Love, Waltzing Matilda, Comino Caminante, And So It Goes, Roger Bobo Plays the Tuba, America, The Beautiful, We Gather Here Togther

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8347c | 1 CD | $15.98


Individual Folios

Displaying 1-7 of 7 items.


All the Pretty Little Horses : SSAA : Frank Ferko : Frank Ferko : 1 CD : 8905

Frank Ferko : All the Pretty Little Horses

Commissioned by Christopher Watson, conductor of the Trinity College Choir, Melbourne, for the ensemble's U.S. concert tour in 2020. This minor-mode lullaby is set in close harmonies which amplify its dual nature: sometimes soothing, sometimes a bit ominous.

Composer: Frank Ferko

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Voicing: SSAA | Sheet Music | $2.35 | A Cappella |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 8905


All the Pretty Little Horses : SATB divisi : Jeffrey Douma : Sheet Music : 50490678 : 884088638351 : 1458422569

Jeffrey Douma : All the Pretty Little Horses

This beloved American folk lullaby incorporates the repeated word hush-a-bye throughout the arrangement, creating a sweet and calming effect as the melody weaves in and out between the different vocal lines. Simple and straightforward, the setting imparts a quiet note of sadness and longing. Duration: ca. 2:40. Recorded by the Yale Glee Club, Jeffrey Douma, conductor.

Arranger: Jeffrey Douma

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Voicing: SATB divisi | Sheet Music | $1.90 | A Cappella |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 50490678


All the Pretty Little Horses : 3-Part Mixed : Joyce Eilers : Sheet Music : 35000584 : 747510058502

Joyce Eilers : All the Pretty Little Horses

Shawnee Press is proud to present this Joyce Eilers arrangement of an American folk tune. Her reputation for writing and arranging quality material for young voices is well known and this piece is another excellent example of her work. All the Pretty Little Horses is a lovely, traditional lullaby, with new, edited lyrics for a more positive message. Arranged for three-part mixed voices, the haunting melody is supported by a wonderful rocking horse accompaniment. For junior high, high school, or adult choirs.

Arranger: Joyce Eilers

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Voicing: 3-Part Mixed | Sheet Music | $2.65 |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 35000584


All the Pretty Little Horses : SSA : Arthur Frackenpohl : Sheet Music : 08602415 : 073999024159

Arthur Frackenpohl : All the Pretty Little Horses

Contemporary use of harmony within a well-loved folk tune creates a strong addition to literature for the women's chorus or youth choir. Simple but effective writing - excellent contest choice! Available: SSA. Performance Time: Approx. 2:10.

Arranger: Arthur Frackenpohl

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Voicing: SSA | Sheet Music | $2.50 | With Piano |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08602415


All The Pretty Little Horses : SSA : Emily Crocker : Sheet Music : 08551185 : 073999428780

Emily Crocker : All The Pretty Little Horses

Featuring canonic imitation, vocal ostinati, and delicately intertwining melodies, this a cappella setting is stunning.

Arranger: Emily Crocker

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Voicing: SSA | Sheet Music | $2.20 | A Cappella |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08551185


All the Pretty Little Horses : Unison : Brian Finley : Sheet Music : 48019316 : 884088110192

Brian Finley : All the Pretty Little Horses

All the Pretty Little Horses is a simple and charming lullaby. Written with a whimsical accompaniment, this gentle piece lies comfortably within an octave.

Arranger: Brian Finley

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Voicing: Unison | Sheet Music | $2.15 |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 48019316


All the Pretty Little Horses : SATB : Andy Beck : Sheet Music : 00-39846 : 038081445076

Andy Beck : All the Pretty Little Horses

This innovative arrangement presents the well-known American folk song with a jazzy twist. Unexpected, but highly creative, it's something truly different for concert or jazz groups. A smooth obbligato for flute and/or vibes is available free at alfred.com/choralparts.

Arranger: Andy Beck | Country: American Folk

More details
Voicing: SATB | Sheet Music | $1.85 |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 00-39846 | Showtrax CD Available
Other Voicings: SAB, SSA, 2-Part

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