“Five from the Folder: Ethnic and Multicultural” by Sharon Davis Gratto

FIVE FROM THE FOLDER: ETHNIC & MULTICULTURAL by Sharon Davis Gratto

 

(Note:  Selections #1 and #2 are effective works to perform for November Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) or April Holocaust observances.)

 

1.  “Tsen Brider” (Ten Brothers) (Yiddish).  Martin Rosenberg arr. Jacobsen. SATB with piano/Transcontinental Publishing.

Written in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942.  Includes moving vocal sounds of gas chambers where the brothers murdered one at a time.

 

2.  “Ani Ma’amin” (Sephardic Hebrew). Arr Caldwell & Ivory. Unison. Earthsongs.

Expresses faith in the Messiah’s coming.  Beautiful, violin part. Written for treble choir but can work with any choir.

 

3.  “Yanaway Heyona” (Iroquois).  Arr. Brian Tate.  SATB.  Pavane (Hal Leonard).

Traditional calling song or lullaby of the Iroquois, a six nation Native American confederacy.  This arrangement can be performed standing in circles arranged by voice part.  Provides opportunities for singers of any age and includes improvisation. 

 

4.  “Janger” (Indonesia).  Arr. Budi Susanto Yohanes.  SATB a cappella.  Earthsongs.

“Janger” refers to a fast and energetic dance; arrangement includes sounds in imitation of instruments of the Balinese Gamelan.  Great vehicle for creative movement and to perform with a university or community Gamelan.

 

5.  “Ose Ayo” (Sunrise Song). Arr. Tate, Ogunmekan, and Gratto.  SATB a cappella.  Pavane.

The song text expresses hope, thanks, and/or joy for the arrival of a new day.  Includes suggestions for African percussion instrument accompaniment.

 

(“Five from the Folder” provides brief, text-length reviews of vocal works currently in the folders of choral directors throughout the United States.  To share five from your folder, contact Scott Dorsey at )