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Community Choirs Repertoire List
Assembled by Harry Johansen, UW-Whitewater

Mark Aamot, former conductor, Waukesha Choral Union

1. George Frederic Handel, Utrecht Te Deum, G. Schirmer 50325460.
"The movements run the gamut of styles and affects giving the choir a variety of expression, lovely duets, small orchestra (2 oboes, 2 trumpets, strings), very accessible for both choir and orchestra."

2. Leonard Bernstein, Chichester Psalms, Boosey and Hawkes BHLCB-214.
"A favorite of singers, especially the middle movement for boy solo and choir, a very compelling treatment of the texts, the reduced version of the accompaniment for organ and percussion works very well."

3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Solemn Vespers of the Confessor, Kalmus K06347.
"We especially enjoyed the final two movements including the beautiful solo for soprano with chorus and the finale for our Christmas concert."

4. John Rutter, Five Christmas Carols, Oxford 353563-7.
"A wonderful set of familiar carols with orchestral accompaniment which includes wonderful writing for the winds and which carry the voices nicely."

5. Stephen Paulus, O Little Town of Bethlehem, POP.
"Very beautiful, singable lines with a sweet accompaniment of oboe and harp."

6. Alexander Grechaninoff, Our Father, various editions.
"You need good basses, but this chant-like piece provides a very rich experience for the choir."

7. Undine Smith Moore, We Shall Walk Through The Valley, POP.
"Very melodious, lush harmonies, slow and moving."

8. Robert Ray, He Never Failed Me Yet, Hal Leonard 447-08014.
"With the right female soloist, this spiritual that really succeeds."

9. Jeffrey Van, Child of Peace, Hal Leonard 419-03014.
"A memorable, haunting dialogue between the men's and women's voices, very easy with an effective guitar or harp accompaniment."

10. Shawn Stengel, Little Jesus in the Hay, POP.
"A very tender piece with an elaborate piano accompaniment, men finish beautifully in a very high, quiet falsetto."

Tom Ajack, former conductor, Waukesha Choral Union and Waukesha Chorale

1. Gabriel Faure, Requiem, Hinshaw HMB-147 (ed. Rutter).
"Heavenly chant melodies, powerful moments, sublime "in Paradisum", accessible and needs only a small chamber orchestra."

2. John Rutter, Requiem, Hinshaw HMB-164.
"Attractive harmonies, great melodies, singers love to sing it."

3. Benjamin Britten, Rejoice in the Lamb, Boosey and Hawkes BHLCB-147.
Rhythmically demanding, but very exciting, a profound text, organ accompaniment and solos parts are demanding."

4. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Missa brevis in C, G. Schirmer 50325400.
"Not difficult, elegant, solo parts doable by choir members."

5. John Rutter, Gloria, Oxford 338062-5.
"Very satisfying piece to perform, very energetic, brilliant colors in accompaniment of brass, organ, and percussion, needs large chorus to balance."

6. Robert Ray, Gospel Mass, Hal Leonard 447-07014.
"Gospel style but part-writing has integrity, soloists from the choir perform with rhythm section, great fun, choir loved it, do-able."

7. Theodore Dubois, Seven Last Words. G. Schirmer 50323850.
"Very romantic, dramatic, will be loved by audience and singers, can be done with piano, organ, harp, and tympani in lieu of orchestra, needs expressive tenor, soprano and baritone soloists."

8. John Leavitt, Missa Festiva, Warner Brothers SV9149.
"Some movements published separately, very attractive, exciting rhythmically, much syncopation, easily learned, can be done with chamber orchestra or organ."

9. Joseph Haydn, Lord Nelson Mass, Kalmus K06241.
"Wonderful Classical music, a solid program choice, loved by singers and audience."

10. Peter Schickele, The Seasonings, Theodore Presser 411-41054.
"Choral parts are quite easy, need dramatic soloists, orchestra is organ and piano and homemade instruments but the parts for them are not easy and take some care, under 30', humorous if done straight."

Gary Bangstad, conductor, Monteverdi Master Chorale

1. Josquin des Prez, Ave Maria, Lawson Gould LG052633.
"Gorgeous paired voices in imitation, superb text painting, 4 voices, exquisite."

2. Peter Phillips, O Beatum et Sacra Sanctum Diem.
"Begins with 3 voices and gradually adds the 6 parts, grows in intensity and excitement, too, until the dance-like close."

3. Melchior Franck, Gelobet sie Gott und der Vater unseres Herren, Jesu Christi.
"Very challenging rhythmically as text stresses determine rhythmic values of this basically homophonic texture in 6 parts, otherwise not difficult, closes with a rousing alleluia."

4. Giovanni Gabrieli, Jubilate Deo.
"Double chorus in the best of the polychoral tradition, can be done a cappella or with instrumental doubling of one or both choirs, or with only instruments on one choir, uplifting and cheerful music that perfectly reflects the text."

5. Claudio Monteverdi, Ave Maris Stella.
"From the Vespers of 1610, a sublime chant-like melody with the composer's wonderful modal harmonic treatment, employs ritournello which can be done with strings or a variety of instruments."

6. Joseph Haydn, Come Lovely Spring, Lawson Gould LG052078.
"A phenomenal piece from The Creation, fun, joyous, one that everyone will love."

7. K. Lee Scott, arr., A Welsh Lullaby, Gentry 08738640.
"This absolutely gorgeous, old, Welsh melody (used as the theme in the movie Empire of the Sun is for 6 part choir a cappella is my favorite lullaby."

8. Charles Villiers Stanford, Beati Quorum Via, Boosey and Hawkes BH5318.
"Begins with 3 part women, then 3 part men in echo, then builds to a glorious ending with outside voices expanded to extremes of range, very lovely and do-able."

9. Conrad Susa, The Shepherds Sing, EC Schirmer 02758.
"From a set of Three Mystical Carols, all good, this is the most exciting piece which employs Latin texts complemented with English texts, employs pungent dissonances and a virtuosic organ accompaniment."

10. Seth Calvisius, Joseph lieber, Joseph mein.
"A new, fresh arrangement of this beloved carol."

Harry Johansen, conductor,UW-Whitewater University-Community Chorus

1. Randall Thompson, "Ye Shall Have A Song" from The Peaceable Kingdom, EC Schirmer 01753.
"Always a favorite among singers, 8-part, a cappella, very uplifting text and music, one among several other fine movements in the work."

2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Regina Coeli in C, G. Schirmer 50324750.
"For 4-part chorus and 4 soloists which should be taken from the choir, graceful and elegant vocal lines and meaningful text setting."

3. Gabriel Faure, Cantique de Jean Racine, Hinshaw HMC-933.
"Gorgeous, long lines in a very attractive harmonic context, very easy."

4. Joseph Haydn, Missa Sancti Nicolai, G. Schirmer 50457710.
"A wonderfully dramatic setting of the text, very accessible for singers, gorgeous solo writing and not difficult, pastoral 6/4 movements open and close the work which is often done at Christmas."

5. Antonin Dvorak, Te Deum, Kalmus K06164.
"Written in honor of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America, this work is very rewarding while not terribly difficult although solo parts (bass and soprano) are demanding."

6. George Frederic Handel, Dettingen Te Deum, Kalmus K06204.
"Another setting also written to celebrate a national event, this work is wonderful as a whole, but can be excerpted very successfully."

7. Robert Schumann, Zigeunerleben (Gypsy Life), Walton W2706.
"Always great fun, both to sing and to hear, a very dramatic, romantic glimpse of a Gypsy camp, short solos for SATB, piano accompaniment."

8. Ernst Bacon, Five Hymns
"Early American texts with an early 20th C. harmonic treatment, challenging, good contrasts among the five hymns."

9. Johannes Brahms, Lass dich nur nicht nichts dauern, G. Schirmer 50318210.
"Simply wrought, but challenging in its counterpoint and text, with a stunningly beautiful "Amen," organ (or piano) accompaniment."

10. Ralph Vaughan Williams, Whether Men Do Laugh Or Weep, Oxford 342866-0.
"A text in honor of frivolity in an exciting, energetic setting with piano accompaniment, a great opener or closer."

Paul Rusterholz, conductor, UW -La Crosse Choral Union and La Crosse Chamber Choir

1. Sergei Rachmaninoff, All Night Vigil, Musica Russica 9629460-6.
"One hour of gorgeous, unaccompanied choral music thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the Russian Orthodox church."

2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mass in C Minor, CF Peters P04856.
"Baroque grandeur and Classical elegance, soprano solos of surpassing beauty, challenging fugues and roulades, a magnificent piece."

3. Franz Schubert, Mass in E-Flat, various.
"A long-time favorite of mine, very rewarding to sing, interesting, challenging fugues, difficult passages for strings."

4. John Rutter, When Icicles Hang, Oxford 338073-0.
"A secular cycle that contains "Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind" and "Bring Us In Good Ale" and much more music on old English Texts which are lively and great fun, accompanied by a medium sized orchestra."

5. Lee R. Kesselman, Nights in Armor
"Four movements, a cappella, with texts based on Arthurian Legend, very interesting, superbly expressive, singable with good harmonic challenges."

6. Daniel Pinkham, Company at the Crèche, Ione 2838A.
"Seven movements each on a text about one of the creatures who visited the manger, for women's voices, some unison singing, accompanied by handbells and harp or piano, great fun, fresh musically and textually."

7. Leonard Bernstein, Missa Brevis, Boosey and Hawkes LCB224.
"Brilliant choral writing (the music for some of the movements is taken from "The Lark") creates a brilliant choral sound, rather challenging vocally, but very rewarding, counter-tenor soloist required."

8. Samuel Barber, Twelfth Night, G. Schirmer 50315300.
"A wonderful a cappella piece with text by Laurie Lea about the darkest night of the year (January 6 by the ancient calendar) which precedes the coming of the light, very challenging."

9. John Wilbye, Draw On, Sweet Night, Galaxy 3.0697.
"A quiet piece beautifully evocative of the comforting mood of the on-coming night, 6 parts, accessible and gorgeous."

10. Peter Schickele, Liebeslieder Polkas, Theodore Presser.
"I'd never do them all but numbers 2, 3, 7, and 10 are hilarious parodies of nearly hallowed texts, tricky, but effective when done well"

Richard Severing, conductor, Southern Lakes Masterpiece Chorale and The Choral Union

1. Ludwig van Beethoven, Mass in C, Kalmus K06077.
"Gorgeous and exciting, solo quartet and plenty of choral singing, moderately difficult."

2. Giacomo Puccini, Messa di Gloria, Warner Brothers 90061.
"Much fun, operatic flavor, only tenor and bass solos and they are not extensive, lots of good choral work."

3. Carl Orff, Carmina Burana. EAM ST02877 (vocal score)
"Tremendously exciting for both singers and audience, lots of unison, text is somewhat tricky, large orchestra with much percussion, or can be done with 2 pianos and percussion."

4. Johannes Brahms, Liebesleider Walzer, Op. 52 and Neue Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 65. Lawson Gould LG000834 and LG051136 respectively.
"Always winners with the singers, Viennese charm, can be excerpted."

5. Michael Tippett, A Child of Our Time, EAM ST10065.
"Extremely difficult, compelling text including some familiar spirituals, 4 soloists, large orchestra."

6. Ralph Vaughan Williams, Mass in G Minor, G. Schirmer 50324560.
"A wonderful piece to sing, a cappella, attractive modal harmonic language."

7. Pietro Mascagni, Scene and Prayer from Cavalleria Rusticana, Oxford OCCO 12.
"A favorite of singers and audiences, poignant and powerful."

8. Felix Mendelssohn, Heilig, various.
"A gloriously beautiful 8 part motet, not difficult yet very rewarding."

9. Gustave Schreck, Advent Motet
"Another 8 part a cappella chorus with 4 soloists which can come from the choir."

10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Finale from Marriage of Figaro.
"Great fun for all, 8 soloists and an easy chorus part."