Having started at a new church I discovered huge number of illegal copies – two large trash cans of illegal photocopies went to the incinerator:
I built a library of music (all legal to copy and share) in binders for the choir members.
After I left that job I thought, “It’s time to publish all this music and give it away for free plus also making it available printed for those that can afford it. and would love to sing it.”
This book was released May 16, 2011.
There is nothing as beautiful as the human voice and there is a miracle of average singers joining together to create a sound better than they as individuals can produce. There have been great Catholic choirs. It is time to have them again.
Breaking News:
What’s better – making a profit on a choirbook, or making only a dollar on a choir book and selling a lot more of them? This is a test program.
Knowing how difficult it is to get money for music at Catholic churches, I decided to give it away, while making a printed book available for people who wanted the entire book – as it was more affordable to buy the book from AMAZON rather than run off all 402 pages of music! Since that time it has been in use around the world, especially because we offer it as a free download.
“This Choir book is an incredible resource and a great deal. As a busy choir director, who must manage a music program along with planning liturgies, buying music, maintaining a choral library, answering endless emails and doing everything by oneself (including, at times, cleaning the choir loft!) I have found this book to be the answer to many prayers as it solves many problems related to running a parish choir.”
Susan Carroll, Music Director, Washington, DC area.
How to use this book to build your choir:
Begin by singing hymns in unison and add other parts as possible. Hearing the hymns, especially the old ones, will gain you support from the congregation.
Then learn the Ave Verum in chant. Once the choir is comfortable, teach them the other versions – after all, having sung the chant, they already know the words, so that helps overcome the challenge of singing in Latin easily. They will enjoy the Mozart – as it is also familiar – and be thrilled to sing the Elgar with the organ. At that point the Byrd is achievable – use the organ to play any missing parts as needed.
At the same time in English, master If Ye Love Me and Sing My Soul. These will be very useful.
Pull out these and other pieces they learn frequently to warm up the choir at rehearsal and before Mass. This reinforces everything you are teaching. People in the congregation will appreciate the music every time that you sing it: familiarity breeds love of great music. You can do it.
Note that ALL the anthems and motets have rehearsal keyboard reductions, useful as well when the organ is filling in for one missing voice on an unaccompanied piece, played on an 8′ stop that balances the choir. Many organists also play the anthems as organ pieces, so all the Masses may hear the same music on Sunday.
402 pages.
ISBN-13: 978-1461103639