•Why this piece is worthy of consideration:
- This piece is really great for working on blend and open vowels. Also, it has 4-part, which I really like for developing a more advanced female choir. Bright Morning Stars is also a folk song, so it has some really nice text and is also preserving US folk songs/history, which I like.
•The ensemble for which the piece will be appropriate:
- This would be best for an advanced high school choir. The piece requires a lot of technique to keep the vowels open even in high registers. It also requires good breath control because of the longer phrases.
•Discuss range/tessitura and how the piece works for singers:
- Soprano 1: G - E, vowels need to be open and clear, singers need to sing without tension
- Soprano 2: E - E, open vowels so that the singer can move throughout the octave comfortably
- Alto 1: low C - C, singers need to keep the voice light as it goes lower
- Alto 2: low G - G, this is low for some altos so part assignment is critical
•What musical ideas can be taught:
- Phrasing, blend across the choir, open vowels, dynamics/musicality
•What about the text is worthy of singing:
- The text reminds of a spiritual, and the whole song has that feel so it is really powerful.
•What, if any, material should be adapted/re-written:
- Depending on the choir, the low G in the second alto part may need to be re-written
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