Poverty and Inequality as a theme

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Poverty and Inequality as a theme

Date: July 9, 2011

by Eduardo Azzati

Views: 3109

I'm looking for suggestions on repertoire (sacred and or secular) for SA, SSA or SSAA (could be a capella or with piano, obligato instruments are OK too) on the theme "Poverty and Inequality" - social injustice, discrimination, disenfranchisement and their effects on education and opportunities -

I know it's a somewhat "out there" theme but I want to see if I can put a program together that includes some pieces with texts along those lines.

Thank you all in advance for sharing with me your wisdom and knowledge on choral repertoire!

Sig Rosen on July 10, 2011 3:19am

www.renaissancechorus.org Has a setting of J M Hopkins "No Worst There is none, Pitched past pitch of grief" by our founder. A 1940 Choral setting ssaa divisi. Recordings & Scores downloadable.

SIR

Kathleen McGuire on July 10, 2011 7:46am

Eduardo,

I direct Singers of the Street (SOS) in San Francisco, a choir for people who are homeless or marginalized, and those who support them. We were presented with a suite of beautifully composed art songs by Phelps Dean Witter called "Songs For The Homeless", with lyrics based on poetry penned by people living on the streets of San Francisco that had been published in the Street Sheet newspaper. If you are interested, I can put you in touch with the composer.

Other suggestions:

Sweet Honey In The Rock has several songs that may be suitable
We Shall Overcome (my a cappella arrangement is available from Yelton Rhodes Music SATB or TTBB, I could request permission to revoice for SSAA)
Harriet Tubman (my arrangement is available from Shawnee Press SATB or TTBB, I could request permission to revoice for SSAA)
Dona nobis pacem (traditional round)
Angels (Sarah McLaughlin)
Imagine (John Lennon)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
By The Waters Of Babylon (round from Don Maclean's American Pie album)
Poor Wayfaring Stranger (Spiritual)
We Shall Not Give Up The Fight (South African Freedom Song)
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
Try A Little Kindness (Glenn Campbell)
Don't Sleep In The Subway
Signs (Five Man Electric Band)
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

I also recommend visiting the SOS website (see below), where you can find links to more than a dozen similar choirs around the world, devoted to and including people who are homeless. On each of their sites, you will find music that may be suitable for your program.

Also, choirs in the gay/lesbian choral movement have been programming social justice music for decades and have a wealth of material. I suggest contacting GALA Choruses:
http://www.gala choruses.org

- Kathleen

Dr. Kathleen McGuire
Artistic Director, Singers of the Street, http://www.singersofthestreet.org

Nathaniel Lew on July 10, 2011 8:31am

Britten's "Children's Crusade" for upper voices, piano, organ, and two percussionists. This 20-minute work is challening to both performers and audiences but powerful.

Anna Dembska on July 10, 2011 10:28am

I made a fun arrangement for Hard Times Cottonmill Girls for my community chorus. It's SATB but I could easily rework it for SSAA. Be happy to send you a perusal copy if you are interested.

Steven Edwards on July 11, 2011 5:19am

Debussy Noel des Enfants qui n'ont plus des Maisons

Poulenc Cinq Chansons (doesn't really fit your them, but the Debussy made me think of Le petit Garcon malade...)