Partner songs - two songs that create harmony but are two separate and distinguishable melodies.  I always think of pentatonic songs as well.

They always pair together well.  The American spirituals "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "When the Saints Go Marching In" form a great partner

song duo.  any pentatonic songs will do, but the more memorable the melody, the better.

There are some collections of partner songs out there, can't think of them but someone will.

I remember using them often when I was teaching young singers.  I also find that using descants for the higher voices often works.  In many cases the

younger voices who can easily sing high will be more capable with harmony than those with iimited range.  You might also consider some songs with

ostinatos (or create some).

 

Larry Smith

Missouri Baptist University

St. Louis MO

smithl(a)mobap.edu

Partner songs (quodlibets) also work very well in teaching beginning part singing. Avoid parallel thirds and sixths with beginners - they hear those as octaves and flip to melody. :-)

Ruth Dwyer at the Indiannapolis Children's Choir advocates a sequence for teaching part singing that works really well, and had octavos published by Colla Voce in the sequence:

1. unison

2. ostinato patterns

3. descants

4. suspended pitches

5. canons/rounds

6. canonic entrances

7. partner songs

8. homophonic and more advanced structures

 

Songs like Pretty Saro are really excellent. They provide opportunities for unison, canon, and ostinato, and are musically really satisfying.  It's a lot about picking the right repertoire that will provide successful experiences in singing in parts. Good luck!

Joy