Advanced+Mixed+Chorus


 * Ching-a-ring-Chaw!**

The text "Ching-a-ring-a-ring-ching-ching" is nonsense language intended to approximate the sound of a banjo, an instrument commonly used in the music of early American minstrel shows. Drawn to the tune by its upbeat music and nonsense refrain, Aaron Copland was hesitant to use the original verses, which advocated the "repatriation" of African-Americans to Haiti. Instead he penned new text to describe a more universal vision of "the promised land".

The words "ding-kum" should be pronounced as "Lincoln", not "koom" as in Latin.


 * Hear My Prayer, O Lord**

Moses Hogan was considered one of the leading arrangers and authorities of African American Spiritual music. His untimely death from a brain tumor in 2003 rocked the choral world, but we are lucky that his many amazing arrangments live on. "Hear My Prayer" is a wonderfully rich tapestry that evokes the human spirit and its attachment to the spiritual world.

This is a great opportunity for us to develop our blend, balance, intonation and musicality without being bogged down with "extra" stuff to confuse us. The purity and sweetness of the text and musical richness needs to shine through.


 * Evenin' Time**

This tune uses a Jamaican dialect and is meant to invoke the spirit of a Jamaican folk song, even though it has a personal authorship and was written for the pantomime "Busha Bluebeard" in 1949. As is the mantra of the Jamaican people, just relax and have fun. No problem!