I am delighted that Mike Mitchell, our president-elect for ACDA-Michigan as of September 2015, agreed to add to our list of great men’s pieces. I hope that you enjoy his list of seven suggestions. Susan.
Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder
Robert de Cormier
TTBB a cappella
Alfred Music, Lawson-Gould Series LG51757
This is an older standard piece that disappeared from the repertoire for a while. It’s worked its way back in and is popular again. I recently did this piece with the Michigan MSVMA State TTBB High School Honors Choir. The students loved it and so did the audience. The piece is dramatic and builds from quiet all the way to nearly frantic. It is sung in the first person by a man who is in prison on a chain gang. The performance requires several percussion instruments, and they can and should be anything you want. I recommend large tools, and anvil, a big chain, a, pick ax, etc. This adds a visual element and aids in telling the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vohCd6SNmGs
What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor
arr. Robert Shaw
TTBB a cappella
Alfred Music, Lawson-Gould Series LG51053
This is another standard of the repertoire for men’s chorus. Shaw wrote so many wonderful arrangements for men, and this may be his very best. It starts out as a fairly straight forward arrangement but works its way to a high excitement level with many variations including a little mixed meter and a waltz section marked “a little inebriated.” This does require low bass at the end with a final low D.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=masVujqiPv4
Tarantella
Randall Thompson
TTBB, piano or orchestra
E. C .Schirmer EC.560
One of the great pieces written for men’s chorus in the past 100 years. This requires a fine pianist with fast fingers. It’s rhythmic and fast, but with much homophony and a haunting slow section as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdfpNfuhx9o
Hodie, Christus, Natus Est
Gordon Lamb
TBB a cappella
G. Schirmer 50320240
Out of Print (Copies are available from the Washington Men’s Camerata Choral Library Project at http://www.camerata.com/library.php)
Gordon Lamb was one of the great choral musicians in America. He passed away a few years ago, but had a long, distinguished career as a university choral director and administrator. This piece is accessible and fun to sing and makes an effective concert or festival opener. It starts out at a mid-tempo and in unison, but ends with a fast “alleluia” that makes for an exciting end. If you like this piece, please don’t be deterred by the fact that it’s out of print. You can get it and I hope you’ll consider it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guHEcSwuFbc
Down Among the Dead Men
Ralph Vaughan Williams
TTBB a cappella
E. C. Schirmer 1.5025
A classic English tavern song that is one of many fantastic men’s settings by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The piece is in several verses, so it is easy to learn. I’ve had more fun doing this piece than just about any other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbgHuLuk8DY
Mary Ann
Paul Hendrickson
TTBB, piano
Shawnee Press 35013933
A beautiful setting of a sailor’s lament for his girl. This piece is simple and beautiful. Easy to learn and easy to sing with a lovely, simple piano part. Very pretty.
I’m Bound Away
arr. Donald Moore
TTB, piano
Alfred Music SV9313
Another beautiful ballad of sadness. A truly lovely melody and sad words of parting. I have seen this piece bring an entire audience to tears. Easy to learn with a simple piano part. Arranged by Donald Moore, who writes wonderful, uncomplicated arrangements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt9UGI0mh3Y
Michael A. Mitchell is Associate Professor of Music at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where he serves Director of Choral Activities while conducting the Oakland Chorale, the University Chorus, and the Symphony Chorus. In addition, Mitchell supervises the graduate program in choral conducting and teaches choral literature and conducting, as well as a summer course on the history of Rock music.
Since 2005, Dr. Mitchell has served as Resident Guest Conductor of the professional ensemble Academic Choir Ivan Goran Kovacic in Zagreb, Croatia. He has lectured at Zagreb University, and was the first American to lecture at the Slovak University of Music and Art in Bratislava, Slovakia. For nine concert seasons he served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Detroit based Cantata Academy Chorale, also leading that group on three acclaimed European concert tours. He has conducted masses and full concerts at many of Europe’s leading sacred music venues, including the St. Nicholas Church in Prague, the St. Matthias Church and St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Bratislava, the Church of St. Jacob in Ljubljana, Chiesa San Salvador in Venice, and St. Catherine’s Church in Zagreb.
Because of his reputation as a dynamic, energetic conductor and teacher, Dr. Mitchell has conducted honor choirs and led choral festivals across the country, and has been invited to perform over 200 guest clinics with individual choirs over the course of his career.
As a composer, Dr. Mitchell’s music has been performed throughout the United States, including at several conferences of the American Choral Directors Association.
Before coming to Michigan, he taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and was a choral director and music supervisor in the public schools in Texas.
Dr. Mitchell studied conducting, music education, and voice at the University of Texas at Austin and received his doctorate in conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where he served as assistant to the legendary conductor Eph Ehly for three years. His other teachers include André Thomas, Jerry McCoy, Patrick Gardner, Mary Breden, Morris Beachy, and John Silantien. As a doctoral student he was the winner of the UMKC Chancellor’s Award for Academic Merit and was a finalist in the American Choral Directors Association national conducting competition.
Dr. Mitchell is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and currently serves that organization as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Ethnic and Multicultural Music for Michigan. He is also a member of the American Music Center, the College Music Society, the Michigan School Vocal Music Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
