Choral Choir,Choral (SSA) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1295545

By Sylvia Miles. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christmas,Medieval,Multicultural,World. 8 pages. Sylvia Miles #885841. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1295545).

This is one of the oldest extant carols; it has been dated to the C13. There's nothing ancient about its style though, it's full of life, and positively skips along.
It may have its origins in the book of Isaiah ch 1 v 3: the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib.
This arrangement is for SSA choir with piano accompaniment and optional violin. If you have a friendly violinist, the violin line adds a real sparkle!
People who aren't used to singing in French won't find it too taxing (I hope!) as there's lots of repetition in the verses, and the refrain stays the same.
Translation: v1.Between the ox and the grey donkey the little boy sleeps.
Ref: A thousand heavenly angels, a thousand seraphim, fly around this great God of love.
v2: In Mary's arms sleeps the fruit of life.
v3: Between roses and lilies sleeps the divine child.
v4: Surrounded by the cheerful shepherds the little boy sleeps.

Choral Choir,Choral (SSA) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1290618

By Sylvia Miles. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christian,Christmas,Medieval,Multicultural,Praise & Worship,World. 10 pages. Sylvia Miles #881341. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1290618).

I just love the old carols - and this one dates back to the 14th century!
It's German, so I've put the 1st and 4th verses in German, and the 2nd and 3rd in English. 
It's a fresh and cheerful arrangement, and fun to sing. There's a lovely a capella trio section in the middle, and a sweeping coda to finish. Enjoy it!

Choral Choir,Choral (SAB) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1299488

By Sylvia Miles. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christmas,Folk,Multicultural,Traditional,World. 8 pages. Sylvia Miles #889361. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1299488).

This charming Catalan carol, probably dating back to the sixteenth century, has one of the most lilting of all folk melodies. It's a Christmas folk-song, which tells of bringing local Mediterrranean produce as gifts for Mary's newborn son: dates, figs, nuts, honey, cheese.
This setting, for SAB, has fairly straightforward harmonies, and if you have a friendly flautist, the flute line adds a touch of sparkle!
(Note on pronunciation: just pronounce pretty much every letter. So, for example, 'que' is kay, and 'nuez' is pronounced nooze.).

Choral Choir,Choral (SA) - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1290700

By Sylvia Miles. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christmas,Folk,Multicultural,Praise & Worship,World. 6 pages. Sylvia Miles #881406. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1290700).

This lovely Catalan Christmas carol, probably dating back to the 16th century, has one of the most lilting of all folk melodies. It's a Christmas folk song, which tells of bringing local Mediterranean produce as gifts for Mary's newborn son: dates, figs, nuts, honey, cheese.
The setting has simple harmonies, enhanced by the flute floating above.
The solo (v2) could be sung in unison, but if you have a soloist brave enough to try, it's worth the effort.
I made this arrangement for a local ladies choir here in France - it sounds fabulous!

Piano,Vocal,Voice - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1118604

By Sir Walter Raleigh (attrib). By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Contemporary,Romantic Period,Wedding. Score. 6 pages. Sylvia Miles #720110. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1118604).

These thought-provoking words, attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh, say that love isn't always easy, there are ups and downs, and it takes perseverance and commitment. The song is set for piano, oboe (or similar) and low voice. Sauncing bell = saints' bell, the little bell that called to prayers. I wrote it as part of a set of love songs for my daughter's marriage.

Piano,Vocal,Voice - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1205825

Composed by Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christian,Jewish,Praise & Worship,Religious,Sacred. Score. 2 pages. Sylvia Miles #804010. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1205825).

This beautiful prayer is the Aaronic Blessing, given by Moses to Aaron, for the people of God. 
I wanted it to be uncomplicated and accessible, and as far as possible to follow the rhythms of speech. This version is for Alto voice with piano accomaniment; the high note is optional.
I wrote it (proud mama) to mark this year's ordination to Deacon of my daughter. It's one of her favourite prayers.
(Though she says the prayer she uses most often is Help!).

Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1230028

By Sylvia Miles. By Traditional Japanese. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Folk,Multicultural,World. Octavo. 4 pages. Sylvia Miles #825791. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1230028).

This lovely Japanese folk song depicts spring, the season of cherry blossom; it's eagerly anticipated and everyone goes out to the parks and the countryside to breathe their fill of the magical fragrance.
Originally 'Sakura' was an urban song of the Edo period of the 17th and 18th centuries. Like many eastern melodies it uses a pentatonic scale.
It's often sung in international settings, as a song representative of Japan.
I wrote this arrangement at a time when my choir only had a few (not very confident) Tenors and Basses, so wherever possible I put them together.
Although it's presented as SATB, it's easy to see that the Ts and Bs support each other!
The aim is to combine a feeling of timelessness (the sustained lines of the Ts and Bs) with a blossomy feeling of floaty weightlessness (Ss and As). Hope you enjoy singing it!

Piano,Vocal,Voice - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1111414

By R.V.Bailey. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Contemporary. Score. 4 pages. Sylvia Miles #713701. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1111414).

R.V.Bailey's exquisite poem With You details the everydayness of loving - and the huge sorrow when the everyday goes on, but without the beloved person. Be prepared: this setting, for piano, solo voice, and violin, is a bit of a tear-jerker.

Choral Choir (SSA) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1118650

By U A Fanthorpe. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christian,Christmas,Religious. Octavo. 4 pages. Sylvia Miles #720142. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1118650).

I can't resist U A Fanthorpe's Christmas poems, written each year to send out to friends, now published by Enitharmon Press. This poem hooked me on the first reading - like the birds, it just ASKS to sing! Try to capture the swooping of the swallow, the brashness of the wren, the melody of the blackbird - and then, the soundless yet penetrating quality of the owl's verse.

Choral Choir (SAB) - Level 2 - Digital Download By Traditional Mexican. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. 163, Christmas, Folk, Multicultural, Praise & Worship, World. Octavo. 3 pages. Sylvia Miles #713924. Published by Sylvia Miles

Choral Choir (SAB) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1112802

By Traditional Poitou, France. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christmas,Early Music,Folk,Multicultural,Praise & Worship,World. Octavo. 9 pages. Sylvia Miles #714767. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1112802).

This ancient carol comes originally from the Poitou region of France, and it's not difficult to imagine it as a dance, like many early carols. The singer says: Get up, neighbour, get going, run, see the baby in the crib - God is born on earth. Choose the very best of your flock, neighbour, and give it with all your heart to Joseph and Mary. Hell is finished; Heaven has the victory. Neighbour, let's sing the praises of the long awaited Messiah. The harmonies are deceptively simple, and from time to time deliberately dissonant, in keeping with ancient modal music styles. (The scoring is SAB - I taught it to my French choir, and as for many 3 part choirs, it's actually S/A/ deep voices!).

Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1229657

By Sylvia Miles. By Traditional Welsh. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Celtic,Folk,Irish,Wedding. Octavo. 3 pages. Sylvia Miles #825418. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1229657).

Ar Lan y Môr is a popular tradtional Welsh folk song, and as with many folk songs, there are various versions. My personal preference is for this version; it paints a seashore picture that I can imagine, and I'm completely convinced by the romantic element!
Musically speaking, I love the alternating 3 and 4 beat bars; they make me think of waves coming irregularly to the shore.
Pronunciation notes: slight roll on all 'r' sounds; rye - 'ye' as in bye-bye; 'ch' as in loch, back of throat; 'll' is said H L - run them together 'hl'. Everything else is written phonetically.
Translation: 1. Beside the sea grow red roses, and white lilies, and there lives my true love, sleeping all night and rising in the morning. 
2. Down where the sea laps at the flat rock, we walked together, and spoke words of love; lilies grow there, and branches of rosemary.
3. By the sea are blue pebbles, golden flowers, everything that's beautiful - and also my dearest sweetheart.

Choral Choir (SSA) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1113190

By Traditional French. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christmas,Early Music,Folk,Praise & Worship,Traditional. Octavo. 5 pages. Sylvia Miles #715143. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1113190).

The tune of this Provençal carol has been known since the 14th century; originally it was a lively dance. It was first published as a carol in France in 1553. The words were written by Emile Blémont, based on a much earlier folk text: it tells the story of two milkmaids, Jeannette and Isabelle, who go to milk their cows in a cowshed near Bethlehem. When they get there, they find Jesus asleep in the hay ... and you know the rest of the story. To this day, children in the Provence region dress up as shepherds and milkmaids, and carry torches to Midnight Mass while singing the carol. Here, I've put verse 1 in French with (underneath) a translation crib, and verse 2 and 3 in English. Contact me if you want all the verses in French!

Choral Choir (SA) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1205860

Composed by Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christian,Jewish,Praise & Worship,Religious,Sacred. Octavo. 2 pages. Sylvia Miles #804048. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1205860).

This beautiful prayer is the Aaronic Blessing, given by Moses to Aaron, for the people of God. 
I wanted it to be uncomplicated and accessible, and as far as possible to follow the rhythms of speech. This version is for 2-part choir, S and A, with an optional top note, and piano accompaniment.
The singing is interspersed by a simple piano motif symbolising cheerfulness.
I wrote it (proud mama) to mark this year's ordination to Deacon of my daughter. It's one of her favourite prayers.
(Though she says the prayer she uses most often is Help!).

Choral Choir (SSA) - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1111409

By UA Fanthorpe. By Sylvia Miles. Arranged by Sylvia Miles. Christmas,Comedy,Praise & Worship,Religious. Octavo. 5 pages. Sylvia Miles #713696. Published by Sylvia Miles (A0.1111409).

This charming Christmas poem by the celebrated UA Fanthorpe tells of the stable cat's feelings at having been left out of the Gospel story. Light-hearted but nonetheless spiritual. In this setting, for 3 treble voices, violin and piano, I'd encourage the singers to think feline - and the violinist to play like a cat stretching!