[HANASHIR:4209] Re: choral music

[Rachelle and Howard Shubert <notfranz...>]

Hi Susan,

I am also always on the lookout for choral music.  Transcontinental is
definitely the most comprehensive resource, although there seems to be a
dearth of material suitable to a small-ish group of volunteer singers.  It's
hard to sing SATB when there is only one T.  Therefore, SAB or two-part is
the best choice and there is not as much as I would like to see of it.  I
often find I have to write my own harmonizations suited to my group of
singers or ask other choir directors to let me use their arrangements.

Other than Transcontinental I find there are some church and general choral
publishers who have set Jewish texts to music.  These, while sometimes
musically interesting, can be full of mistakes and sometimes lose the Jewish
"ruach" in the arrangements.  For example, I just looked at a setting of
Sh'ma Yisrael by Doreen Rao (a top choral arranger) and the copy read
"bar'chu shem kevod" instead of "baruch".  There was also an added
"Alleluia" NOT "Hallelujah".  Oy!

If you are still interested in exploring, check out Choral Net web site and
contact choral publishers.  Perhaps they will send you a list.  I have
requested and received catalogues from Schirmer, Hal Leonard and others.

Soundswrite has some good choral arrangements but so far the ones I have
ordered are a tad challenging for my group.  I have also noticed that Tara
has some choral anthologies -- compilations of Yiddish, liturgical and other
music -- which are tempting me.  Marshall Portnoy, on this list, has
published at least two books of nice and accessible arrangements of  his
original Jewish melodies.

Good luck.

Rachelle






----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Schanerman <sschanerman(dot)dvh (at) tuhsd(dot)k12(dot)az(dot)us>
To: hanashir <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 1999 11:12 AM
Subject: [HANASHIR:4207] choral music


> Does anyone order adult choral music (SAB or SATB) from publishers other
> than Transcontinental?  I need some other resources.
>
> Also, can someone elaborate a bit on "Sermon in Song"?  The CA office
> sent me pricing info but didn't respond to questions about content.
> What exactly is it?  How much time is involved in learning the music?
> (I'm assuming that the singer sings different melodies during the
> sermon?)
>
> Susan Schanerman
> Phoenix
>
>
>

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