Repertoire Post #3

Sisi Ni Afrika (We Are Africa), Christian "Ceej" Oliver - TTB High School Choir

 
•Why this piece is worthy of consideration:

 -  I really like that this piece is written in Swahili and Amharic instead of English because it exposes the choir to world music and different languages. I also love the optional percussion element because I could bring in band students and involve more students in the concert. It also gives this piece a unique sound that I think students would like and get into, especially when the ensemble begins clapping and adding body percussion.

•The ensemble for which the piece will be appropriate:

 - I think this would be for a high school ensemble. The parts are in 3rds and have a lot of parallel motion, which would make it harder for a beginning choir in middle school. There is also some independence in the parts in between the chorus, so I think this would be good for an intermediate male ensemble.

 

•Discuss range/tessitura and how the piece works for singers:

- Tenor: low E - F, some of the lower notes may be too low, but there are alternate notes written above them for singers who can't sing that low.
- Baritone: E to D, this range is problematic for changing voices, so this should be sing with voices that have already changed.
- Bass: low C to B, again, this is a larger ranges (over an octave) so it might be better for a HS choir.

•What musical ideas can be taught:

- accents, solo/independent parts, body percussion, syncopated rhythms

 

•What about the text is worthy of singing:

- The text translates to "No matter where we are from, we can all celebrate who we are."I think this is a great message, especially for a school with a diverse student body.

 

•What, if any, material should be adapted/re-written:

-  Some of the lower notes for the tenors may need to be taken up. Also, some of the solo lines may need to have additional singers added to it depending on balance issues.