folk chorus

Subject: folk chorus
From: sheba
Date: 17 Aug 00 - 06:26 PM

Has anyone had experience with a folk chorus comprised of adults and children? A group is starting in my community interested in building a song repertoire together and singing out at community festivals, nursting homes, etc. (although performing is not the main objective). Anyone with suggestions, format for the meeting, successful tunes, etc.? As a side, by chance I did stumble across a piece by Pete Seeger in "The Incompleat Folksinger" called "Folk Choruses?" p.347 Any thoughts o

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: jeffp
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 09:44 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From:
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 12:21 PM

Well, there are several groups you might check out. The only one I know which includes children is the Riverport and Area Community Choir, which performed at the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival last weekend.

The local groups, Chebucto Community Chorus, Aeolian Singers and Cape Breton Chorale, are all groups which have a folk repertoire, mostly of Cape Breton/Nova Scotia/Maritime music. However they don't include children in the group.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: sheba
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 10:33 PM

Thanks for the lead George. Did you hear them? Do they have a leader I might search out? (The Riverport and Area Community Choir).

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Aug 00 - 11:11 PM

Just HOW are you wanting to format the singing? Parts, as in SATB? Most folk music is not formatted for anything except the melody line, and you would probably have to work out other parts yourslef. Is this a condsideration? Finding the correct key for children/adults and male/female ranges may also be a serious consideration.

I would suggest that to begin with, at least, you sing "simple" songs--5 note melodies in EZ keys, such as D, G, and C. Songs like "Children's Songs"--Kemo Kimo, Old Joe Clark, BINGO, etc. I know these are not very exciting songs, but they will get you started.

Then, think about moving "up" to some of the Child Ballads, most of which are still 5 note tunes, but more challenging in terms of key and rhythm. Memorizing the words is more difficult with the ballads, though, it seems. They can be soooooooo long.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From:
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 12:57 AM

Sheba, yes, they seem to have a leader. I heard them do one song last Friday night. It was part of a tribute to Ed McCurdy, who died back in June(?). They sang his song "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream".

It was glorius. I'll see if their leader is online, and get back to you. E-mail me if you want, and I will pass whatever information I get on to you.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 12:57 AM

Hmmm, I have a book back home, folk tunes in 4-part harmony. Can't recall the title. (Grass Roots Harmony???)

I'll be home in a week-- PM me if you want to see some material from this.

~S~

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: Lox
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:13 AM

I think it's possible to give kids less credit than they deserve when it comes to learning and singing songs. A lot of kids get bored when they are made to sing the same old rubbish (at school it was kumbayah etc)

Choose good songs, ie songs that 'you' like (I'm assuming that you're not exclusively a "Slayer" or a "Wu Tang" fan)

How about "chicken on a raft" Everybody gets to take turns, and its completely ridiculous fun. It's on the database too...

The best bit it is "Hi-Oh" bit

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: Lox
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 01:25 AM

PS The best way to do it is:

In the verses, a soloist sings the first line, the whole group sings the second - solo 3rd...etc...

In the chorus, Hi-Oh is sung by a soloist.

It's a great example of call and response, and as I said in my last post, everybody gets to take turns as the soloist.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 02:11 AM

Sheba, I'm curious. If performing is not the main objective, what is the main objective? Scratching my head ... Johnny in OKC

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: Micca
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 05:51 AM

Sheba, Animaterra runs a very good choir and might be worth contacting by PM about this, I can vouch for the excellence of their singing (I have several albums) they do not have Children in the group as far as I know, but she may be able to help with suggestions of songs etc, I do understand she is rather busy just now, and therefore may be slow to respond, but it is worth a try.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: sheba
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 02:27 PM

I just wanted to pass on how this group came about. I lead a song circle for children where we sing traditional ballads, call and response tunes, and then breathe some life into the old play parties and games. The parents said, "We want to do that, too!" These were adults who loved to sing, but were intimidated by the masterwork choral sings that were happening nearby at a local church (those one night sessions of reading through Bach's b minor mass). I called this group together last Spring...we met once every week. Friends brought other friends until we were up to thirty people. Some people were great harmonizers, and after teaching the kids on the melody, they took off and did their own thing. Soon the older children were off on the harmony parts, too. We sang things like, "Country Life" and "Away To Rio." I brought in some printed folk song arrangements, but our best tunes were learned by ear.

We completed our few months by singing for a group of retired firemen (and we did sing "Scotland's Burning" and "Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight"!). It was well received and the firemen joined in with us. The best part many members have said, is the rehearsing and passing the tunes on to the kids and working out harmonies with the school janitor (who is one great singer in our group). I must also state that I am a selfish Mom and I couldn't give my newly adopted son anything better than singing with people that he sees on the street of our small town. (Trying to answer Banjo Johnny!)

We will meet agin in the Fall and are looking for many more other tunes that can include everyone (I think a little bawdy and rough is okay). Also, any singing group has a share of egos and I am searching for a format that will give all levels of musicianship a chance to participate. Thanks so far.Sheba

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 04:40 PM

Thanks for taking the time to respond, Sheba. It seems a shame to let such a great activity dissolve .. I hope you can keep it going! == Johnny

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 10:34 AM

Sounds like you're doing a good job of working out the meeting logistics.

If I may make a repertoire suggestion, start doing Carter Family songs if you are not already doing them. Most of the Carter Family's output is singable by people at any level. The tunes are easy to learn but interesting and distinctive. The lyrics are great. Try, e.g., Orphan Child, Keep on the Sunny Side, Distant Land to Roam.

As for "a format that will give all levels of musicianship a chance to participate"... I have been a member of a dulcimer club for 20+ years. The following works for us. We divide our meetings into two parts separated by a snack break. One part is a group sing. We sing stuff from our common repertoire as a group. This can be thought of as practice for our gigs, but we don't think of it that way. In the other part we systematically go round the circle and give everybody who shows up a chance to do something/anything. They can name the next song for the group to sing, lead the next song, perform a solo, teach a new song, tell a joke, whatever. The idea is to give people a chance to show off. A lot of nifty additions to the group's repertoire have come from this.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: sheba
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 11:43 PM

Russ...that's what I was looking for! Thanks a bunch!It sounds like a great way to learn about the group.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From:
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 12:16 AM

Sheba, a couple of tunes which lend itself to wonderful group sings are:

Roll Old Chariots Along
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
The Last Shanty
Marching Inland
The Sailor's Prayer

Hope that helps. (The last three are Tom Lewis songs). You might want to check into a group called Artisan. Artisan's Web-site. They have new and traditional songs with lots of great harmonies.

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 07:24 AM

Sheba, this sounds great! I'd love to do something like this with children and adults if I could find the time. I teach grade- school children and I direct a women's chorus (thanks for the plug, Micca) but the chorus is a much more formal format. You've got me thinking....

Subject: RE: folk chorus
From: sheba
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 11:25 PM

I am looking for the land of continual summer, Animaterra.I teach middle school chorus at a private school (summer can't be over yet!?). Singing with the community is becoming a real eye-opener for me. I look forward to our evening out with the town singers in a less formal format. The best part about the town singing is that eventually I can step back into the circle and sing with them after a song is learned. I don't want to conduct...I just want a place in town to sing!