Treble Chorus

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Noel Nouvelet

SA, oboe, and piano
Published by Boosey & Hawkes

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Goin’ to Boston

2-part treble and piano

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Goodbye girls, I’m goin’ to Boston,
Goodbye girls, I’m goin’ to Boston,
Goodbye girls, I’m goin’ to Boston,
earlye in the mornin’.
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
earlye in the mornin’.

Saddle up girls and let’s go with them,
Saddle up girls and let’s go with them,
Saddle up girls and let’s go with them,
earlye in the mornin’.
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
earlye in the mornin’.

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye girls,
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye girls.

Swing your partners all the way to Boston,
swing your partners all the way to Boston,
Swing your partners all the way to Boston,
earlye in the mornin’.
All the way, all the way, all the way to Boston.

Goodbye girls, I’m goin’ to Boston,
Goodbye girls, I’m goin’ to Boston,
Goodbye girls, I’m goin’ to Boston,
earlye in the mornin’.
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
Won’t we look pretty in the ballroom,
earlye in the mornin’.
Goodbye!

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Fare Ye Weel

SSA and piano
Published by Boosey & Hawkes
(MMEA festival list)

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Who Shot Cock Robin?

for 2-part treble and piano

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O’ Bonnie Doon

SSA and piano
Published by Boosey and Hawkes
(MMEA festival list)
Commissioned by the Peabody Children’s Chorus
Doreen Falby, director

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The Wren Song

for 2-part treble and piano

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I Saw Three Ships

for 2-part treble and piano
Commissioned by the Peabody Children’s Chorus
Doreen Falby, Director
Source: Traditional Carol

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The Water is Wide

SSA and piano
Out of print, Santa Barbara Music Pub.
Available at this site
Commissioned by the Peabody Children’s Chorus, Doreen Falby, director
Source: Traditional Scottish

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There Are Things That Creep In the Night

SSA and piano

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There are things that creep in the night,
They make grown men’s knees weak at night,
There are things that creep in the night,
They make walls and floors creak at night.
Hearing things that creep and crawl,
I wonder how one sleeps at all,
There are things that creep in the night.

There are things that creep in the night,
They make people shriek late at night,
There are things that creep in the night,
The darkness won’t reveal them at night.
Hearing scraping in the hall,
Guarantees to cast a pall,
There are things that creep in the night.

When I am awoken in the night by ghostly sounds,
Counting sheep will seldom be the fix,
I’ve been told to meditate on peaceful mountain streams,
But all that comes to mind is that ghastly River Styx,
Yes, that Styx.

There are things that creep in the night,
They make grown men’s knees weak at night,
There are things that creep in the night,
They make walls and floors creak at night.
They go prowling in your dreams,
Making even monsters scream,
Even underneath the sheets
One can’t seem to sleep a wink,
Hearing things that creep and crawl at night.
There are things that creep in the night,
There are things that creep in the night.

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Dark, Cold, Windy Night

Christmas theme
2-part treble and piano
text by John Floyd Campbell

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Long ago on a dark, cold, windy night,
All was not calm and all was not bright,
Three wise men had followed a lone mysterious light,
It was a dark, cold, windy night.

Lonely night; dark, cold, lonely night,
Mother was crying as she held her baby tight,
Baby was cold and hungry at this squalid sight,
It was a dark, cold, windy night.

Mother she cried as she held him tight,
This baby she loved was bathed in starry light,
She held him tight at this holy site,
It was a dark, cold, lonely night.

Baby cried, little child it cried,
Could it be that baby cried all night long?
Was it the wind that they heard all that night,
Or was it the angels in song?

Long ago on a dark, cold, windy night,
All was not calm and all was not bright,
Three wise men had followed a lone mysterious light,
It was a dark, cold, windy night.
It was a dark, cold, holy night.

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Alleluia

SSAA

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Uluru

SSA, piano, and percussion
Source: “Watzing Matilda” text by Banjo Paterson

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Uluru…
Up jumped the swagman and jumped into the billabong,
You’ll never catch me alive said he,
And his ghost can be heard as you pass by the billabong,
Who’ll come awaltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
Who’ll come awaltzing Matilda with me,
And his ghost can be heard as you pass by the billabong,
Who’ll come awaltzing Matilda with me.

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Choral Etude #2

for SSAA, a cappella

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Loch Lomond

for SSA and piano
Source: Scottish Traditional

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By yon Bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,
Where me and my true love were ever won’t to gae,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.

‘Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o’ ben Lomond,
Where in deep purple hue, the highland hills we view,
And the moon coming oot in the Gloaming.

O’ ye’ll tak the high road, and I’ll tak the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.

The bonnie banks, the bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.

Where in deep purple hue, the highland hills we view,
And the moon coming oot in the Gloaming.
And the moon coming oot in the Gloaming.

The wee birdies sing, and the wild flowers spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping,
But the broken heart will ken nae second Spring again,
‘Though the waeful’ may cease fae their greeting.

O’ ye’ll tak the high road, and I’ll tak the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.

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When I First Came To This Land

SA and piano
source: traditional Pennsylvania Dutch

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When I first came to this land,
I was not a wealthy man.
Then I got myself a shack,
I did what I could
And. I called my shack “Break My Back.”
For the land was sweet and good,
I did what i could.

When I first came to this land,
I was not a wealthy man.
Then I got myself a cow,
I did what I could.
And I called my cow “No Milk Now,”
And I called my shack,
“Break My Back,”
For the land was sweet and good,
I did what I could.

When I first came to this land,
I was not a wealthy man.
Then I got myself a duck,
I did what I could.
And I called my duck “Out of Luck,”
And I called my cow “No Milk Now,”
And I called my shack, “Break My Back,”
For the land was sweet and good,
I did what I could.

When I first came to this land,
I was not a wealthy man.
Then I got myself a wife,
I did what I could.
And I called my wife
“Run For Your Life,”
And I called my duck “Out of Luck,”
And I called my cow “No Milk Now,”
And I called my shack, “Break My Back,”
For the land was sweet and good,
I did what I could.

When I first came to this land,
I was not a wealthy man.
Then I got myself a son,
I did what I could.
And I called my son “Your Work’s Done,”
And I called my wife “Run For Your Life,”
And I called my duck “Out of Luck,”
And I called my cow “No Milk Now,”
And I called my shack, “Break My Back,”
For the land was sweet and good,
I did what I could.

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This Train

2-part treble and piano
Out of Print, Santa Barbara Music Pub.
Originally published under the title SAINT TRAIN
source: American Spiritual

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Gower Wassail

for 2-part treble and piano
Source: Traditional Carol

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Awassail, awassail, throughout all this town.
Our cup it is white and our drink it is brown.
Our wassail is made of the good drink and true.
Some nutmeg and ginger, it’s the best we can brew.

Fol the dol, fol the do-de-dol, fol the do-de-dol, fol the dol-de-dee, 
Fol the de-ro, fol the da-dee, sing tu-re-lye-do!

Our wassail is made of an elderberry bough,
And so, my good neighber, we’ll drink unto thou.
Besides all of that, you’ll have apples in store,
Pray let us come in for it’s cold by the door.

Fol the dol…

We hope that your apple trees prosper and bear,
So we may have cider when we call next year.
And where you’ve one barrel I hope you’ll have ten,
So we can have cider when we call again.

Fol the dol…

We know by the moon that we are not too soon,
We know by the sky that we are not too high,
We know by the stars that we are not too far,
We know by the ground that we are within sound.

Fol the dol…Sing tu-re-lye-do!

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Three Craws

for 2-part treble and piano
Source: Scottish Traditional

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Three craws sat apon a wa’,
Sat apon a wa’, sat apon a wa’,
Three craws sat apon a wa’
on a cold and frosty morning. 

The first craw couldny flee ata’,
Couldny flee ata’,
Couldny flee ata’,
The first craw couldny flee ata’
on a cold and frosty morning.

The second craw fell and broke his jaw,
Fell and broke his jaw,
Fell and broke his jaw.
The second craw fell and broke his jaw
on a cold and frosty morning.

The third craw was greetin’ for his Maw,
Greetin’ for his Maw,
Greetin’ for his Maw,  
The third craw was greetin’ for his Maw
on a cold and frosty morning.

The fourth craw…wasny there ata’.

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Mairi’s Wedding

SA and piano
Source: Traditional British Isles

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Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe,
Arm in arm and on we go, all for Mairi’s wedding.
Cheeks as bright as rowans are, brighter far than any star,
Fairest of them all by far is our darling Mairi.

Plenty herring, plenty meal, plenty peat to fill her creel,
Plenty bonnie bairns as weel, that’s the toast for Mairi,
Over hillways, up and down, myrtle green and bracken brown,
Past the sheiling to the town, all for sake of Mairi.
Who’s the fairest of them all, brighter far than any star,
Cheeks as bright as rowans are? She’s our darling Mairi.

Over hillways, up and down, myrtle green and bracken brown,
Past the sheiling to the town all for the sake of Mairi.

Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe,
Arm in arm and on we go, all for Mairi’s wedding.
Cheeks as bright as rowans are, brighter far than any star,
Fairest of them all by far is our darling Mairi.
Is our darling,is our darling Mairi.

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Ghost of John

for 2-part treble and piano
Source: Traditional

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T-REX

for SA and piano
Text by John Floyd Campbell

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Sixty-six million years ago from last Friday,
There lived a frightening king,
A king that still haunts the dreams of young children
Who often wake with blood-curdling screams.

With his muscular jaw and his razor sharp teeth,
This king had a bone-crunching bite.
With his powerful legs and a whip for a tail,
Seldom would he lose a fight.

But his brawn doesn’t tell the whole story,
Although it is true he could brawl.
His brain, and sharp senses, and hunting in herds,
Made up for his arms that were small.

Did I tell you he was off-the charts vicious?
His smile would reveal blood-stained teeth,
His neighbors were many and varied;
He found them delicious to eat.

So now I hope you are sitting,
‘Cause what I say next may surprise,
This scaly king had feathers,
But you never would have seen him fly.

It’s been sixty-six million years since tragedy struck,
Earth became a desolate place,
After a one in a trillion collision
With a rock from outer space.

It wasn’t too long before death gripped the king,
Along with other creatures, too,
All that remains are their fossilized bones,
So don’t look for him in a zoo.

But let’s not forget this remarkable creature
Even though he lived long ago,
To all those nights of our terror-filled sleep,
The nightmares to T-Rex we owe.

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Across the Western Ocean

2-part treble and piano
Published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing
Source: American Sea Shanty

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Bosque Valley

2-part treble and piano
Text by John Floyd Campbell

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Long ago in the Bosque Valley covered deep in snow,
Life was warm in the Bosque Valley as the fire burned low,
As the fire burned low.

Long ago in the Bosque Valley moon was shining bright,
Sweet the sound of someone laughing on a winter night,
As the fire burned low.

Sweet the sound of popcorn popping
On that night, on that night,
Sweet the sound of children laughing
On that night, that winter night, winter night.

Long ago in the Bosque Valley cold the wind did blow,
Love was warm in the Bosque Valley as the fire burned low,
As the fire burned low.

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Danny Boy

SSA and piano
Source: Traditional British Isles

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Oh Danny boy, (Oh Danny boy),
Oh Danny boy, the pipes the pipes are calling,
From glen to glen and down the mountainside,
The summer’s gone and all the flowers are dying,
T’is you t’is you must go andI must bide.

But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow,
or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow,
T’is I’ll be there in sunshine or in shadow,
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy I love you so.

And if you come when all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead as dead I well may be,
You’ll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an “Ave” there for me.

And I shall hear tho’ soft you tread above me,
And all my dreams shall warmer, sweeter be,
And you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace, Danny boy,
Sleep in peace, until you come to me.

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Hear the Bells Ringing

3-part treble, piano, and bells
Text by John Floyd Campbell

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Hear the bells ringing, they sing as they sway,
Village to village we hear the bells play.
Reach out a hand and step back from the fray,
Hear the bells ringing on this Christmas Day.

Can you hear carolers, fa la tra lay,
Songs of a baby who slept on the hay?
Songs of three kings who knelt where he lay,
Toss away worries on this Christmas Day.

Cold wind whispers its sound, White snow deep on the ground.
Music, it’s all around us, Music, it may astound us,
Fa la tra lay, astound us, Fa la tra lay, Fa la tra lay.

Hear the bells ringing, they sing as they sway,
Village to village we hear the bells play.
Reach out a hand and step back from the fray,
Hear the bells ring! Hear the bells ringing today!

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Ding Dong Merrily on High

SSA and piano
Source: French Traditional

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My Heart’s in the Highlands

2-part treble and piano
Commissioned by the Peabody Children’s Chorus
Doreen Falby, director
Source: Scottish Folk Song

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My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer,
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, 
The hills of the highlands forever I love.

(Farewell, farewell, forever I love, I love.)

Farewell to the mountains, high-cover’d with snow,
Farewell to the straith and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

Farewell, Farewell.

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer,
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.
My heart’s in the Highlands, My heart’s in the Highlands,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.

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It’s Been a Long, Cold Winter

2-part treble and piano
Text by John Floyd Campbell

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See the child looking out the window, it’s been a long, cold winter,
She feels the morning warm the sky, it’s been a long, cold winter.

Hear the child singing at the window, it’s been a long, cold winter.
Her songs of hope they fill up the sky, fill up the sky,
It’s been a long, cold winter. It’s been a long, cold winter.

Patiently she’ll watch that tree for signs of bird or breeze,
Promises from ev’ry flower and ev’ry child she sees.

See the child dreaming at the window; it’s been a long, cold winter.
She feels her dreams will touch the sky, it’s been a long, cold winter.
See the child, see the child, see her dream. See her, see her dream.

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Seize This Day

for SSA, piano, and flute
Text by John Floyd Campbell

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Seize this day,
the lonely night has slipped away,
We have been watching for a long time,
We have been waiting for the sun to shine.

Seek the wonder of this day,
The long night, it is tucked away,
We have been hoping, hear these words we pray,
We have been dreaming for a brand new day!

Life’s not always easy, and sometimes we live in fear,
But life is such a miracle, a new day is always near.
Breathe deep, Breathe the air into each day we live.

Seize this day,
The years, these years will fly away,
We are the young now, but that won’t be for long.
Life is such a wonder, so let us seize each day.

Move like lightning on this day, on this day.
Seize this day!

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Seize This Day

for SA, piano, and flute
Text by John Floyd Campbell

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On the Railroad

2-part treble, percussion, and piano
Source: American Traditional

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Eighteen hundred and fifty-one,
American railroad just begun,
American railroad just begun
workin’ on the railroad.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-two,
Lookin’ around for things to do,
Lookin’ around for things to do,
Workin’ on the railroad.

Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Workin’ on the railroad.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-three,
the railroad comp’ny accepted me,
the rairoad comp’ny accepted me,
workin’ on the railroad.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-four,
I found by back was might sore,
I found my back was mighty sore,
workin’ on the railroad.

Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Workin’ on the railroad.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-five,
I found myself more dead than alive,
I found myself more dead than alive,
workin’ on the railroad.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-six,
I stepped on a pile of dynamite sticks,
I stepped on a pile of dynamite sticks,
workin’ on the railroad.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-seven,
I found myself on the way to heaven,
I found myself on the way to heaven,
workin’ on the railroad.

Pat-sy o, Pat-sy o, Pat-sy o,
Workin’ on the railroad.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-eight,
I was pickin’ the lock on the pearly gate,
I was pickin’ the lock on the pearly gate,
workin’ on the railroad. 

Workin’ on, workin’ on,
Oh I’ve been workin’ on the railroad,
All the live long day,
Oh I’ve been workin’ on the railroad,
just to pass the time away,
Workin’ on, workin’ on, workin’.

Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay,
Patsy o-ree-o-ree-ay.

Eighteen hundred and fifty-nine I was
floatin’ around on the clouds sublime,
Floatin’ around on the clouds sublime,
workin’ on the railroad.

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Gloucestershire Wassail

for SA and piano
Source: Traditional English

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Wassail, wassail all over the town!
Our toast it is white and our drink it is brown,
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee.

So here is to Dobbin and to his right eye,
Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie,
And a good Christmas pie that may we all see;
With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee.

So here is to Broad May and to her broad horn, 
May god send our master a good crop of corn,
And a good crop of corn that may we all see,
With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee.

So here is to Fillpail and to her left ear,
Pray God send our master a happy New Year,
And a happy New Year as e’er he did see;
With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee.

Wassail, Wassail, Wassail, Wassail.
With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee.

Wassail, wassail all over the town!
Our toast it is white and our drink it is brown,
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, wassailing bowl,
With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee.
With the wassailing bowl we’ll drink to thee.

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Gloucestershire Wassail

for SSA and piano
Source: Traditional Carol

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Quem Pastores

for SSA and electric piano
Source: Traditional Carol

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Quem pastores lauda vere
Quibus angeli dixere,
Absit vobis jam timere,
Natus est rex gloriae.

Ad quem Magi ambulabant,
Aurum, thus, myrrham portabant,
Immolabant haec sincere
Nato regi gloriae.

Christo regi, Deo nato,
Per Mariam nobis dato,
Merito, resonet vere
Laus, honor et gloria.

Translation:

Shepherds left their flocks a-straying,
God’s command with joy obeying,
When they heard the angel saying:
Ò Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Wise men came from far, and saw him
knelt in homage to adore him;
Precious gifts they laid before him:
Gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Let us now in every nation
Sing his praise with exultation.
All the world shall find salvation
In the birth of Mary’s Son.

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Starlight, Star Bright

SSA and piano
Source: original text based on traditional text;
original melody by Mary Rameaka Campbell

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Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight,
Wish I may, wish I might have the wish I wish tonight.

As your bright and tiny spark lights the trav’ler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are, Twinkle, twinkle little star.

When the blazing sun is set, and the grass with dew is wet
Then you show your little light, All the night.

Then the trav’ler in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see where to go if you did not twinkle so.

Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.
Little star, little star, How I wonder, Starlight, star bright.

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Patapan

2-part treble, piano and flute
Source: attributed to Bernard de La Monnoye, 1641-1728
First published in Noël bourguignons, 1720

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Willie take your little drum, with your whistle, Robin come!
When we hear the fife and drum.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
When we hear the fife and drum,
Christmas should be frolicsome.

Thus the men of olden days loved the King of kings to praise;
When they hear the fife and drum.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
When we hear the fife and drum,
Christmas should be frolicsome.

God and man have now become more at one than fife and drum.
When you hear the fife and drum.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
When we hear the fife and drum,
Christmas should be frolicsome.

Willie take your little drum, with your whistle, Robin come!
When you hear the fife and drum.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
When we hear the fife and drum,
Christmas should be frolicsome.

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The Moon

SSA and piano
Commissioned by the All-Children’s Chorus of Annapolis
Liz Barrett, Director
Poem by Robert Lewis Stevenson

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The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house.
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.

 But all of the things that belong to the day.
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall rise.

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Streaks of Gold in the Eastern Sky

for 2-part treble, piano, and flute
Text by John Floyd Campbell

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Streaks of gold in the Eastern sky,
night fading away,
Seabirds soar in the eastern sky,
oon will come a new day.
The sun will rise, the sun will rise this day.
We long for a new day,
The stars will sleep soon, and they will dream,
Will the day be filled with wonder,
Will the day be filled with laughter,
With people singing?
The stars will soon be dreaming,
and the sun beams will soon be stealing
bright through our windows,
Bringing life to each willow and rose.

But ev’ry day a young child cries,
And ev’ry day a young child dies
We’re on the brink of tomorrow,
We stand on the edge,
We have the hope of a new way to live,
We’re on the edge of the dark of the night.

The sun will rise, and our slumbers will fade away,
Soon our slumbers will drift away,

No one can see tomorrow,
No one can see what the future might bring,
Will it bring grief and sorrow,
Or will it bring joy and peace,
On one knows, no one knows.

Streaks of gold in the Eastern sky,
Night melting away,
On the brink, to feel life,
In the east we see new light.
Feel, feel this life,
Soon will be a new day. Live.

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Rocking

2-part treble and piano
Source: Traditional Czech Carol

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Little baby, sweetly sleep, do not stir,
We will lend a coat of fur.
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will rock you, rock you.
See the fur to keep you warm,
Snugly ’round your tiny form.
Snugly ’round, snugly ’round your tiny form.

Mary’s little baby sleep, sweetly sleep;
Sleep in comfort slumber deep.
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will rock you, rock you.
We will serve you all we can,
Darling, darling, little man, little man.

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Two Japanese Folk Songs

for 2-part treble and piano
Source: Traditional Japanese Children Songs

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