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adult anthem to be sung by childrenDate: April 13, 2013 by Lucille Reilly  Views: 656
Our choir director has asked me to sub for the next children's choir rehearsal while he's away this next week. One of the anthems these youngsters are singing is "All Things Bright and Beautiful" by >John Rutter<. The choir director said there was also a children's choir version available. True? If so, I'm wondering what keys it migrates to? The final key in the adult-choir version is Bb major, inflicting a high G on these young voices (ages 5-9). Because of this, I wonder if the children's choir version is more range-friendly. I have the training to help them sing that high G, but it feels extreme and I really don't want to take them way up there. (At least I'm a sub, so I can stop the piece early and let the choir director figure it out!)
If anyone has a young-voice version of this anthem, please let me know about the keys within it. And for those who have the adult version, please take a look. Our rehearsal is this Wednesday, so I have a little time to gather information. Thanks!
Michael Callender on April 14, 2013 9:54am
Lucille. There is the original upper voices version of All things bright and beautiful by Philip Stopford , written for a junior school in Ireland [where the poem was written] and published by Hal Leonard www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqmQ2dlGLyA&feature=related
on April 15, 2013 4:28am
Hi Lucille,
the children's version is in the same key. I wouldn't be worried about the high G which is only an eighth note. I'd be more concerned about the sustained high f's. For that age range, this piece is a bit high for them. Some older voices would support those notes. I think I would let it to the director to figure out since they picked it.
on April 15, 2013 8:57am
Lucille,
If you have the training, as you say, I encourage you to use it! :)
Many children are naturally high sopranos; listen to them calling to each other on the playground! ;)
I suggest warming them up with lots of HooOOoo -type inflections (caps indicate higher range). I had much succes with a small group - about 6 kids ages 4 to 7 - doing this. Each week, to warm-up, we imitated ghosts, owls, sirens. If it is like a game, they usually go right to it. Maybe you can do it first and have them guess which character you are. (Any answer would be correct.)
The tone, of course, needs to be light and heady, not pushed or throaty.
As long as we (directors) are modeling a good, tension-free tone, and show youngsters how, they usually learn that instantly. If it still proves difficult, then use the opportunity to teach an octave - and have the "alto-ish" ones sing it - just those high phrases - down an octave. To keep the "sopranos" (who can naturally sing G) from "bailing", you may wish to ascertain beforehand who they are and employ their leadership.
To sustain the "F" - "Let's fill up our breath balloons ahead of time, and let the air puor out slowly, through the hole in the top."
This will save your church money (no need to order new music) and teach them great skills! :) And you'll have something exciting to share with your regular director when he returns!
Best,
-Lucy (My given name is also Lucille. :)
on April 17, 2013 2:53pm
Thanks, everyone, for these great answers! I'm ready for these youngsters and will be leaving the house in a few minutes to go to rehearsal. It's snowing in Denver, not enough to cause concern, but I just hope everyone comes despite that. We're a small group.
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