One for the boys! Reading the F/bass clef.

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: USA – Traditional
• Key: G Major
• Time: 4/4
• Form: ABA
• Rhythm: intermediate: | ta/a ta/a | ti ta/a/a/ | syncopation, | ti ta ti ta ta | syncopation , | ta/a/a/a |
  | ti/ ri ti ti ti ti ta | syncopation, | ti ti ta ti ti ta | syncopation, | ti/ ri ti ti ta/a | syncopation
• Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi Fa So
• Intervals: beginners: Mi\Do/Mi (M3), Do/Fa (P4) Mi/So (m3) So\Mi (m3)
• Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted half, half, quarter, dotted eighth, sixteenth; rest: quarter; syncopation, tied notes (15 beats), reading the F clef, reading the bass clef
• Key Words: USA college song, camp song, scout song, merrily we roll along; contraction: we’re (we are); abbreviation: o’re (over)

“Good Night Ladies” 

Good night, ladies! Good night, ladies! Good night, ladies! We’re going to leave you now. Merrily we roll along, Roll along, roll along. Merrily we roll along, O’re the deep blue sea. Farewell, Ladies! Farewell, ladies! Farewell, ladies! We’re going to leave you now.

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Syncopation in 6/4 time, feeling duple meter in 6/4 time,
repeated melodic rhythm patterns.

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: German/Latin, English translation: John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
• Key: F Major
• Time: 6/4 unusual time signature
• Form: ABBC
• Rhythm: beginners: | ta/a ta ta/a ta | syncopation,
  | ta/a ta ta/a/a | syncopation, | ta/a/a ta/a/a |
  | ta/a/a/a/a |
• Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La
• Intervals: beginners: m3: Mi/So, So\Mi; M3: Do/Mi; P5: Mi\So, Do/So
• Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, quarter; pickup beat, tied notes; 6/4 time: (slower version of 6/8) feeling duple meter (2) in 6/4 (dotted half), melodic rhythm patterns
• Key Words: world geography: Germany, England; old language: Latin; sacred, Christian, rejoice, Jesus Christ, ox and ass, manger, heart and soul, voice, bliss, forever, fear, grave, peace, blest, everlasting; Old English: ye (you), hath (has); abbreviations: ope’d (opened), heav’nly (heavenly)

“Good Christian Men Rejoice!” 

	1.	Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice! Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today; Ox and ass before him bow and he is in the manger now. Christ is born today, Christ is born today.
	2.	Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice! Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this; He hath ope’d the heav’nly door and man is blest forever more. Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this.
	3.	Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice! Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save; Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save, Christ was born to save.

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Minor tonality, syncopation, and a melody
stepping up and down the staff.

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: England – Traditional Carol
• Key: D minor (pitched in F Major)
• Time: 4/4
• Form: AB – verse/refrain
• Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ta | ta/a/a ta |
  | ta/a ta ta | ta/a ti ti ta | syncopation
• Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La
• Intervals: intermediate: La/Mi (P5), Mi\La (P5), Fa\Re (m3), La8\Mi (P4), Do\La (m3), La/Do (m3), La/Re (P4) – melody moves primarily by steps
• Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, minor tonality, verse/refrain
• Key Words: world geography: England, Bethlehem, Israel; scared, Christmas carol, Christmas hymn, birth of Jesus, Bible story, Christ, Saviour, Satan, holiday song, seasonal song, astray, Jewry, blessed, manger, mother Mary, scorn, tiding, comfort, God, heavenly, Father, angel, shepherds, brought, Son of God, affright, Savior, Virgin, rejoiced, flocks, tempest, straight, oxen, kneeling, pray, praises, brotherhood, embrace, holy tide, doth deface, reign, kindred; abbreviation: Bethl’em (Bethlehem), pow’r (power)
• Recorder: intermediate: introducing B flat, D minor tonality

“God Rest You Merry Gentlemen” 

		1.	God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan’s pow’r When we were gone astray:
			Refrain:
			O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.
		2.	In Bethlehem in Jewry This blessed Babe was born, And laid within a manger, Upon this blessed morn; The which His mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn:
			Refrain
		3.	In Bethlehem, in Israel, This blessed Babe was born, And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn; The which His mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn:
			Refrain
		4.	From God our heavenly Father A blessed angel came; And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same; How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name.
			Refrain
		5.	“Fear not, then,” said the angel, “Let nothing you affright This day is born a Savior Of a pure Virgin bright, To free all those who trust in Him From Satan’s power and might.”
			Refrain
		6.	The shepherds at those tidings Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind, And went to Bethl’em straightaway This blessed Babe to find.
			Refrain
		7.	But when to Bethlehem they came Where our dear Savior lay, They found Him in a manger Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling Unto the Lord did pray.
			Refrain
		8.	Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface.
			Refrain
		9.	God bless the ruler of this house, And send him long to reign, And many a merry Christmas May live to see again; Among your friends and kindred That live both far and near:
			That God send you a happy new year, happy new year, And God send you a happy new year.

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Minor tonality, syncopation, and a raised dominate (Si) which functions as the leading tone to the parallel G Major.

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: USA – African American Spiritual, circa. 1862
• Key: G minor (pitched in B Flat Major)
• Time: 4/4
• Form: staves: AABC – song AB, verse/refrain
• Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ta | ta ta ta/a |
  | ta ta ti ta/ | syncopation, | ta/a/a ta | ta/a/a/a |
  | ta ta/a ta | ta ta/a/a |
• Pitches: intermediate: Mi Si* La Ti Do Re Mi – raised/sharp dominate (Si, G#), functions as the leading tone to the parallel Major, G
• Intervals: intermediate: Mi/Do (M6), Do\La (m3), La\Mi (P4), Mi/Si (M3), Si/La (m2), La/Re (P4)
• Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, melodic rhythm patterns, vocal slur, raised/sharped dominate (Si)
• Key Words: USA history, African American history, sacred, world geography: Bible stories, Israel, Egypt, Canaan; contraband slave song, contraband slaves (escaped slaves working/fighting for the Union during the American Civil War) oppressed, Pharaoh, bondage, toil, spoil, flee, Christ, free, weep, mourn, chains, forlorn, foes, possess; contraction: you’ll (you will); abbreviations: slav’ry (slavery); possessive: Egypt’s, Canaan’s
• Recorder: intermediate: introducing G#, A minor tonality

*Although composed in G minor, the raised 7th (5th in major tonality) ending the first, second, and fourth phrases gives the feeling of ending in G Major. This also supports the lyrics strong statement, “Let my people go!”

“Go Down, Moses” 

		1.	When Israel was in Egypt’s land, Let my people go! Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go!
			Refrain:
			Go down, Moses, Way down in Egypt’s land. Tell old Pharaoh, To let my people go!
		2.	No more shall they in bondage toil, Let my people go! Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil, Let my people go!
			Refrain
		3.	Oh, let us all from bondage flee, Let my people go! And let us all in Christ be free, Let my people go!
			Refrain
		4.	You need not always weep and mourn, Let my people go! And wear these slav’ry chains forlorn, Let my people go!
			Refrain
		5.	Your foes shall not before you stand, Let my people go! And you’ll possess fair Canaan’s land, Let my people go!
			Refrain

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Introducing the major/minor sixths, an augmented second,
and an accidental: natural sign (raised tonic, Di).

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: USA – George M. Cohan, circa: 1904
• Key: A Flat Major
• Time: 2/4
• Form: AB – verse/chorus
• Rhythm:intermediate: | ta ta | ti ta/ | syncopation,| ta/a_|_a ti ti | (_=tie) syncopation,
  | ta/ ti | syncopation, | ti ta ti | syncopation,
  | ta ti ti | ti ti ti ti |
• Pitches: intermediate: Mi Fa So La Ti Do Di Re Mi Fa – natural/raised tonic Di
• Intervals: intermediate: A2: Mi\Di (augmented second) M3: Ti\So, Di\La; m3: Mi\Do, Do\La, La/Do, Re\Ti; m6: Do\M; P4: So/Do; M6: La/Fa
• Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eight, eight, sixteenth; rests: eighth, quarter; double single bar, repeat signs, first and second endings, verse/chorus, accidentals: natural; tempo: di Marcia: march; vocal slur, ties
• Key Words: USA – Broadway, musical: “Little Johnny Jones” (title character played by composer), James Cagney, Al Jolson, film: “Yankee Doodle Dandy”, Yankee, foreign, shore, Old New York: Waldorf, Herald Square, Forty-Second Street, Coney Island; tear dimmed eyes, mention, doubt, pier, Isle, mingle, throng, yearning; abbreviations: e’er (ever), ev’ry (every), ’round (around); possessive: ship’s, contraction: they’re (they are)

“Give My Regards To Broadway” 

	1.	Did you ever see two Yankees part upon a foreign shore When the good ship’s just about to start for Old New York once more? With a tear-dimmed eye they say goodbye, they’re friends without a doubt; When the man on the pier shouts, “Let them clear!”, as the ship strikes out…
		Chorus:
		Give my regards to Broadway, remember me to Herald Square, Tell all the gang at Forty-Second Street, that I will soon be there; Whisper of how I’m yearning to mingle with the old time throng; Give my regards to old Broadway and say that I’ll be there e’re long.
	2.	Say hello to dear old Coney Isle, if there you chance to be, When you’re at the Waldorf[1] have a “smile” [2] and charge it up to me; Mention my name ev’ry place you go, as ’round the town you roam; Wish you’d call on my gal, now remember, old pal, when you get back home…
		Chorus

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Complete descending tonic arpeggio (I, D),
ascending tonic arpeggio, and dotted syncopation.

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: Ireland – Traditional Folk Tune, circa. 1700’s
• Key: D Major
• Time: 2/4
• Form: phrases: ABCB – song: AB
• Rhythm: intermediate: | ti ti ti ti | ti ti ti/ ri | syncopation, | ti ti ti ri ti ri | ta ti ti ri | ti ti ti ti/ ri | syncopation, | ti ti ti/ ri | syncopation
• Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do – extended range
• Intervals: intermediate: So8\Mi\Do descending tonic arpeggio (I, D), Do\La (m3), Mi/Do8 (m6), Ti/Re (m3), Re\So (P5), Do/So (P5), Mi/So (m3), Do8\So8\Mi\Do complete descending tonic arpeggio (I, D), Do/Mi/So8 ascending tonic arpeggio
• Musical Elements: notes: quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; pickup beat, syncopation, tonic arpeggios
• Key Words: world geography: Ireland, popular soldier’s song: USA war of independence, war of 1812, and American Civil war; lonesome, moor, heavy thoughts, parting, fine and gay, remind, swift, forget, night, stars, gently, lent, vowed, bound, Brighton camp, heaven, pray, guide, safely, golden hair, ringlets, diamonds, shining, slender waist, heavenly face, pining, gods, prayer, beauteous, bee, honey, taste, dove, ranger, falling waters, roar, cease, ere, vows, cheer, bind me, constancy; contractions: I’m (I am); abbreviations: ne’er (never), silv’ry (silvery), heav’n (heaven)
• Recorder: advanced: introducing F#, (high and low), complete descending tonic arpeggio, extended range

“The Girl I Left Behind Me” 

	1.	I’m lonesome since I crossed the hill, And o’er the moor and valley Such heavy thoughts my heart do fill Since parting with my Betsey. I seek no more the fine and gay For each does but remind me, How swift the hours did pass away With the girl I left behind me.
	2.	O ne’er shall I forget the night, The stars were bright above me And gently lent their silv’ry light When first she vowed to love me. But now I’m bound to Brighton camp Kind heaven then pray guide me And send me safely back again, To the girl I left behind me.
	3.	Her golden hair in ringlets fair, Her eyes like diamonds shining Her slender waist, her heavenly face, That leaves my heart still pining. Ye gods above oh hear my prayer To my beauteous fair to find me And send me safely back again, To the girl I left behind me.
	4.	The bee shall honey taste no more, The dove become a ranger The falling waters cease to roar, Ere I shall seek to change her The vows we made to heav’n above Shall ever cheer and bind me In constancy to her I love, The girl I left behind me.

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Beginners syncopation and intervals brings the focus on history
and vocabulary of the American Revolution.

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: USA – music: Traditional, words: Joseph Warren
• Key: F Major
• Time: 2/4
• Form: AABa
• Rhythm: beginners: | ti ti ti ti | ta ti ti | ta (ti) ti |
  | ti/ ri ti ti | syncopation, | ta (ti) ti |
• Pitches: intermediate: So Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La
• Intervals: beginners: m3: Re/Fa, Re\Ti, Fa\Re; P4: So/Do\So; P5: So\Do, Do/So
• Musical Elements: notes: quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; rest: eighth; pickup beat, expression: with spirit, dynamic: forte/loud, syncopation
• Key Words: USA history, American Revolution, American Colonial Song, patriotic song, American Revolutionary Song; world geography: Europe: France; Spain; Athens, Greece; Rome, Italy; science, seat, mistress, glories, scarce, tomb, rights, stoop, lawless, sway, oppose, North America, freedom, hither, desert, smiled, paradise, pleasure, harvest, snatch, torn, tyrants, beneath, western, dominion, liberty, freemen, God bless, maiden climate, through, cast, domain, hosts, heroes cluster, scorn, blast, venal, sycophants, betray, assert, yourselves, brave, proud disdain, wretch, ensnare, vain, array, reigns, masters, laws, subject, isles, ocean, spread, tremble, obey, prince; contractions: we’re (we are) , we’d (we would); abbreviation: pow’r (power), o’er (over); possessive: earth’s , freedom’s

“Free America” 

	1.	That seat of science, Athens, And earth’s proud mistress, Rome, Where now are all their glories? We scarce can find a tomb. Then guard your rights, Americans, Nor stoop to lawless sway, Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose For North America.
	2.	We led fair Freedom hither, And lo! the desert smiled, A paradise of pleasure Was opened to the world; Your harvest, bold Americans, No pow’r shall snatch away, Huzza, huzza, huzza For free America.
	3.	Torn from a world of tyrants Beneath this western sky We formed a new dominion, A land of liberty; The world shall own we’re freemen here, And such will ever be, Huzza, huzza, huzza, For love and liberty.
	4.	God bless this maiden climate, And through her vast domain May hosts of heroes cluster That scorn to wear a chain. And blast the venal sycophants Who dare our rights betray; Assert yourselves, yourselves, yourselves For brave America.
	5.	Lift up your hearts, my heroes, And swear with proud disdain, The wretch that would ensnare you Shall spread his net in vain; Should Europe empty all her force, We’d meet them in array, And shout huzza, huzza, huzza For brave America.
	6.	The land where freedom reigns shall still Be masters of the main, In giving laws and freedom To subject France and Spain; And all the isles o’er ocean spread Shall tremble and obey, The prince who rules by Freedom’s laws In North America.

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As well as beginning the song, each phrase ends on the mediant, only one interval (P4), and an ending which is imperfect.

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: England – Traditional Carol
• Key: D Major
• Time: 3/4
• Form: staves: ABABCB – phrases: AAa – song: AB, verse/refrain
• Rhythm: beginners: | ta/ ti ti ti | syncopation,
  | ta/a ti ti | syncopation, | ta ta ta |
• Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
• Intervals: beginners: P4: Do\So, So/Do
• Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, two double barlines, verse/refrain, vocal slurs, syncopation; melody primarily steps up and down the major scale, with each phrase ending on the mediant, imperfect ending: final note is not the tonic
• Key Words: world geography: England, Bethlehem; Christmas carol, sacred, Bible stories, birth of Jesus, Noel (Christmas), angel, certain, shepherds, night so deep, star in the east, beyond, earth, continued, wise men, country, nigh (near), northwest; abbreviation: o’er (over)

“The First Noel” 

	1.	The first Noel, the angel did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
		Refrain:
		Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
	2.	They looked up and saw a star, Shinning in the east, beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night.
		Refrain
	3.	And by the light of that same star, Three wise men came from country far; To seek for a king was their in tent, And to follow the star wherever it went.
		Refrain
	4.	This star drew nigh to the northwest, O’er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there, it did both stop and stay, Right over the place where Jesus lay.
		Refrain

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Sharped subdominant (Fi, F#) and dominate (Si, G#),
and a mediant octave skip (Mi/Mi) in A minor.

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: England – Sea Chantey*
• Key: A minor (pitched in C Major) 
• Time: 3/4
• Form: phrases: AaBC – song: AA – verse/chorus
• Rhythm: intermediate: | ta ta ta | ta/a ti/ ri | syncopation, | ta/a ta | ti ti ta ti/ ri | syncopation
• Pitches: advanced: Mi Fi Si La Ti Do Re Mi – raised/sharp subdominant (Fi), raised/sharp dominate (Si) functions as the leading tone for the parallel major (A Major)
• Intervals: advanced: Mi/La (P4), La\Si/La (m2),
  Si\Mi (M3), La/Re (P4), Ti/Mi (P4), Mi\La (P5), Ti\Si(M3), Si\Fi (M2), Fi\Mi (M2), Mi/Mi8 ascending mediate octave skip
• Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; pickup beat, sharp subdominant (Fi, F#), sharp dominate (Si, G#), tempo: allegretto/moderately fast (98-109 BPM); note: melody moves between A minor and its parallel major, A Major 
• Key Words: world geography: Spain, England, Downs, Dodman, Rame Head, Plymouth, Start, Portland, Wight, Beachy, Fairlight, Dover (Dungeness), South Foreland, Ushant, Scilly; French word: adieu (long goodbye); ladies, received, Old England, short-time, rant, roar, British sailors, salt sea, strike surrounding, English Channel, sea leagues, hove (past of heave), ship, deep soundings, fathoms, squared the main yard, bore up; contractions: we’ll (we will), ’twas (it was); abbreviation: sou’west (southwest)
• Recorder: advanced: introducing F# and G#, played in a minor tonality

*Describing a voyage from Spain to the Downs.

“Farewell, Spanish Ladies”

	1.	Farewell and adieu to you all, Spanish ladies, Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain; For we’ve received order to sail for Old England, But we hope in a short-time to see you again.
		Chorus:
		We will rant and we’ll roar like true British sailors, We’ll rant and we’ll roar all on the salt sea. Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England; From Ushant to Scilly is thirty five leagues.
	2.	We hove our ship to the wind from sou’west, boys We hove our ship to, deep soundings to take; ‘Twas forty-five fathoms, with a white sandy bottom, So we squared our main yard and up channel did make.
		Chorus
	3.	The first land we sighted was called the Dodman, Next Rame Head off Plymouth, off Portsmouth the Wight; We sailed by Beachy, by Fairlight and Dover, And then we bore up for the South Foreland light.
		Chorus

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