Today I’m introducing a newly published concert-round, via Graphite Publishing, called Gamaya. Philip Brown, director of Hopkins High School Choirs and commissioner of Gamaya, wrote, “A hauntingly beautiful melody to sing, Gamaya is a wonderful way to build independent confidence in your ensemble. It establishes beautiful melodic lines, with lots of shape and natural text emphasis. So happy to have been the choir to premiere such an important concert round.”
The work is influenced by sound of ancient chants in Vedic Sanskrit, where the cantors would flirt with the upper halfstep and the whole step below the drone. It focuses on mantra-like repetition throughout the choir, another fascination of mine and an aspect of this ancient, sacred chant music.
The piece in its published form is a concert work, but the main round in measures 3-18 can be used on its own. A choir could sing the round in unison, or as a 2- or 4-part round as designated, each new part coming in half a bar later, or each new part could come in a full bar later. The voicings are a suggestion, though this particular round works best with alternating ranges.
To listen to a recording, see a perusal score, or order copies, please visit Graphite’s Gamaya page here. Thank you for supporting my music and, hopefully, adding to your programming in the process!
Paul John Rudoi, composer and tenor vocalist
pauljohnrudoi.com
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