Choral Choir (3-Part) - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.844645
Composed by Phil Beaman. Folk,Jazz,Spiritual. Octavo. 13 pages. Phil Beaman #4719605. Published by Phil Beaman (A0.844645).
This piece is a Showstopper! Rock-a-My-Soul is a Choral piece based on the traditional folk/gospel/spiritual. I originally envisioned this piece for a Middle School Choir, but it works well with any group that wants to have fun. It is written in 3 part Treble clef which the conductor may assign as they see fit for their choir and performance. (Part 3 works very well with male voices.) Parts all stay within an octave from Middle C to C above.
This lively version uses many styles of jazz to drive this piece, yet there is also a recurring descending third ostinato which is the rocking comfort this piece imparts. The piano part plays an important role in driving this piece and setting the moods. Each of the seven sections shifts the mood and jazz style but maintains a level of energy.
After completing the jazz arrangements of the traditional chorus I tried various ways to extend the piece. One day while working on this piece I saw a news clip about another school bullying incident. I immediately made the connection -- at its heart Rock-a-My-Soul is really about overcoming obstacles to find comfort and acceptance. So I wrote some additional lyrics to create an anti-bullying, anti-depression section. I have soloists deliver the main lines to make it personal and invitational then the choir backs them up, call and response style, with Everything's gonna be alright.
Lyrics throughout are all carefully worded so that the song may be used for either secular or sacred purposes. The context and location where it is sung will flesh out the implied and intended meaning. If sung in school it means you have friends here who accept you; if sung in your place of worship then it means that your God accepts you.
Simple power, beauty and meaning all wrapped in joyous jazz!
13 page score, 4:00 minute performance
recording is various excerpts of the accompaniment to show different stylistic sections
