A selection of folk ballads from England Ireland Scotland and Wales.A ballad is the blending of words the beauty of melody tone rhythm and expression. They reflect the history of a people their legends religion love and work. British ballads are renouned for their verse melodic construction and for the enormous range of expression.1 The Lass of Richmond Hill is a poem by Leonard McNa…

Par L'ESTRANGE ALEXANDER (Arr.). Danny Boy (the melody of which is also known as Londonderry Air), is often assumed to be an old, traditional tune, however its structure and meter do not fit any of the known Irish folksong forms. As for the words most commonly associated with it for the last hundred years or so, they were written by an English lawyer who apparently never set foot in Ireland! Still…

Lively percussion captures the attention followed by a stacking of voices singing this popular South African folk song. Attention is given to vocal writing that creates rhythm patterns around the melody use of repetition and the use of both English and Swahili. A perfect beginning a cappella work for young singers and developing choirs. Percussion parts are available for download on the Closer …

Mannin Veen (Dear Mona) is a traditional Manx melody arranged for SATB chorus by Vaughan Williams. It includes a Piano reduction for rehearsal purposes. Lyrics are provided in both English andManx.Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was an English composer editor and collector of folk music. He studied at the RCM under Stanford and Parry and formed a lifelong friendship with Holst with whom he…

This Puerto Rican folk song has been arranged as a lively partner song using an original melody and both English and Spanish text. Combined with the festive piano accompaniment and shakers for all to play this spirited choral isa multicultural gem and a sound teaching tool for part singing.

Par FARKAS FERENC. “I wrote this Christmas cantata from Köröshegy at the request of the Council of the Komitat Somogy. When I visited the still unrenovated little church at Köröshegy about ten years ago I had no idea that this beautiful Gothic building would one day be the scene of the world première of one of my works. - The cantata is founded on four pillars: four organ soli which could be descr…

(Pohtsyeluitsye Mehniya Nyezhna)-To be sung in Russian or English “Kiss Me Softly” is imitative of folk songs of Russia or Eastern Europe. The work describes the separation between lovers family or friends whether by time distance or death. A haunting melody flows atop a lamenting accompaniment that may be played by either piano or harp. Add optional flute and cello for a special to…

Variations on an Old Folk Song-Commissioned by the Schott publishing house the present variations on the song Greensleeves were written in 2000 by Genzmer who seized on the suggestion to write a cycle of variations on this Old English melody which had often served as a theme for variations in music history as for example in the famous anonymous cycle 'Greensleeves to a ground' (around 1700). Gen…

Par FARKAS FERENC. “I wrote this Christmas cantata from Köröshegy at the request of the Council of the Komitat Somogy. When I visited the still unrenovated little church at Köröshegy about ten years ago I had no idea that this beautiful Gothic building would one day be the scene of the world première of one of my works. - The cantata is founded on four pillars: four organ soli which could be descr…