The Whale

Intermediate syncopation, tonic arpeggio,
and changing rhythms to match lyric syllables.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: Whaling Song
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Form: through composed
Rhythm: intermediate: | ta/ ti ti ti ti ti | syncopation, | ta ta ta ti ti | ta ta ti ti ti ti |
| ta/a/a ti ti | ti ti ti ti ta ti/ ri | syncopation,
| ta ta ta ti/ ri | syncopation, | ti ti ta ti ti ta |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So
Intervals: intermediate: So/Do (P4), Mi/So8(m3), Do/Mi/So ascending tonic (I) arpeggio (G), Fa\Re (m3), Re\So (P5)
Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth; pickup beat, tonic arpeggio, vocal slurs
Key Words: USA history, whaling song, sea song, world geography: Greenland; world history 1853, gallant, ship, anchor, weighed, bore, brave, lookout, crosstrees, stood, spy glass, telescope, whale blow, span, captain, stood, quarterdeck, overhaul, davit tackles, launch boats, aboard, full view, resolved, seaman, steer, blew, struck, paid out, flourish, tail, capsized, drowned, caught, grieves, heart, full score, dreadful, place, daylight, seldom; earth science – Greenland is not green; contractions: that’s (that is)

“The Whale”
also known as:
“Greenland Whale Fisheries”

	1.	‘Twas in eighteen hundred and fifty-three And of June the thirteenth day That our gallant ship her anchor weighed, And for Greenland bore away, brave boys, And for Greenland bore away.
	2.	The lookout in the crosstrees stood With his spy glass in his hand; “There’s a whale, there’s a whale, there’s a whale fish!” he cried. “And she blows at every span, brave boys, She blows at every span!”
	3.	And the captain stood on the quarterdeck, And a fine little man was he; “Overhaul, overhaul! Let your davit tackles fall, And launch your boats for sea, brave boys, And launch your boats for sea!”
	4.	Now the boats were launched and the men aboard, And the whale was in full view; Resolved was each seaman bold To steer where the whale fishes blew, brave boys, To steer where the whale fishes blew!
	5.	We struck that whale and the line paid out, But she gave a flourish with her tail; And the boat capsized and four men were drowned, And we never caught that whale, brave boys, And we never caught that whale!
	6.	“To lose the whale,” our captain cried, “It grieves my heart full sore! But, oh to lose four gallant men It grieves me ten times more, brave boys, It grieves me four times more!”
	7.	Oh, Greenland is a dreadful place, A land that’s never green; Where there’s ice and snow, and the whale fishes blow And the daylight’s seldom ever seen, brave boys, And the daylight’s seldom ever seen.

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We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Melody goes up a whole step for first three phrases.

Description

Grade: First
Origin: England – Traditional Carol
Key: G Major
Time: 3/4
Form: rhythm: AAAB – pitches: ABCD
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ti ti ti ti | ta ta ta |
| ta ta ti ti | ta (ta) ta |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa
Intervals: intermediate: So/Do, La/Re, Ti\So, So/Mi, Do\La, La/Re, Re\Ti
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth; rest: quarter; pickup beat, uncommon interval: La/Re, common ending Re\Ti/Do
Key Words: sacred, holiday, seasonal, Christmas, New Year, old English end of the year tradition, figs, figgy, pudding, cup, good cheer, until, some; contraction: won’t (will not)

**“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”**

		1.	We wish you a merry Christmas; We wish you a merry Christmas; We wish you a merry Christmas, And a happy New Year.

		2.	Oh, bring us some figgy pudding; Oh, bring us some figgy pudding; Oh, bring us some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.

		3.	We won’t go until we get some; We won’t go until we get some; We won’t go until we get some, so bring some right here!

		4.	We wish you a merry Christmas; We wish you a merry Christmas; We wish you a merry Christmas, And a happy New Year.

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We Three Kings of Orient Are

An unusual time signature (3/8) and distinguishing the intervals
Do\So/Do (P4) and So\La/Do (m3).

Description

Grade: Third
Origin: United States, John Henry Hopkins, Jr.
1857
Key: G Major
Time: 3/8
Form: AB – verse/refrain
Rhythm:beginners: | ta ti | ti ti ti | ta/ |
| ta (ti) |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So
Intervals: intermediate: Do\La, La/Mi, La/Do, Mi/So8, Ti/Re, Do\So/Do, Do\La/Do
Musical Elements: notes: dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; rest: eighth; fermata, 3/8 time signature, verse/refrain; distinguishing between the minor third ( m3) and the perfect fourth (p4)
Key Words: US geography: Williamsport, Pennsylvania; world geography: Bethlehem, Orient; sacred, Christmas, birth of Jesus, Christ, God, Three Wise men, bearing, traverse, moor, yonder (a distance away), plain, crown, ceasing, reign, frankincense, incense, Deity, nigh, praising, raising, worship, myrrh, bitter, perfume, breathes, gathering, gloom, sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, stone-cold, tomb, glorious, behold, sacrifice, alleluia, earth, beauty, westward, proceeding, guide, perfect, replies; abbreviations: seal’d (sealed), heav’n (heaven)
Recorder: intermediate: playing in G major, introducing F#

**“We Three Kings of Orient Are”**

	1.	We three kings of Orient are; Bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.
		Refrain:
		O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.
	2.	Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign.
		Refrain
	3.	Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a Deity nigh; Prayer and praising, voices raising, Worshipping God on high.
		Refrain
	4.	Glorious now behold Him arise; King and God and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia, Sounds through the earth and skies.
		Refrain

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We Shall Overcome

Syncopation with a triplet, repeating melodic rhythms,
and intervals for beginners.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Civil Rights Song
Key: C Major
Time: 4/4
Form: through composed
Rhythm: intermediate: | ta ta ta ta | ta/ ti ta/a | syncopation, | ta/a ta/a | ta/a ti-ti-ti | triplet syncopation, | ta/a ta ta | ta/a/a/a | ta (ta) (ta/a) |
Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re
Intervals: beginners: Mi/So (m3), Re\Ti (m3), So\Do (P5), Do/Fa (P4)
Musical Elements: notes: whole, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; rest: half, quarter; triplet, repeating melodic rhythms
Key Words: USA history, African American history, USA holiday: Martin Luther King’s Birthday, civil rights movement, protest song, freedom song, civil rights marching song, USA geography; Selma, Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama, Atlanta, Georgia; overcome, shall, today, deep, heart, believe, hand in hand, not afraid

**“We Shall Overcome”**

	1.	We shall overcome, We shall overcome, We shall overcome some day; Oh, deep in my heart I do believe, We shall overcome some day.
	2.	We’ll walk hand in hand, We’ll walk hand in hand, We’ll walk hand in hand some day. Oh, deep in my heart I do believe, We’ll walk hand in hand some day.
	3.	We are not afraid, We are not afraid, We are not afraid today. Oh, deep in my heart I do believe, We are not afraid today.

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We Shall Not Be Moved

Raised/sharp tonic (F#, Di) and a lowered/flat leading tone (Eb, Te) with chromatic minor seconds, Ti\Te\La.

Description

Grade: Fifth
Origin: USA – African American Spiritual
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: AB – verse/refrain
Rhythm: beginners: | ti ti ti ti ta ta | ta/a ta/a |
| ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti | ta (ti) ti ti ti ti ti | syncopation,
| (ti) ta ti ta ta | syncopation, | ta/a (ta/a) |
| ta ta ta ta | ti ti ti ti ta (ta) |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Te Ti Do Di Re Mi Fa – raised/sharp tonic (F#, Di) lowered leading tone (Eb, Te – blue note)
Intervals: intermediate: So/Mi (M6), Re\Di/Re (m2), Re\So/Re (P5), Ti\Te\La (chromatic m2’s), Do\La (m3), La/Do (m3), Mi\Do/Mi (M3)
Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, eighth; rests: half, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, verse/refrain. syncopation, raised/sharp tonic (F#, Di), lowered/flat leading tone (Eb, Te – blue note), repeated melodic rhythm patterns
Key Words: USA history: secular union movement, labor rights; African American Spiritual: tune “I Shall Not Be Moved“, African American history: sacred, Civil Rights Movement; union, freedom, fighting, building, black and white together, young and old, heavy burden, God’s marching, church of God, deceive
Recorder: advanced: playing in F Major, introducing B flat, F sharp, and E flat, syncopation, blue note, repeated melodic rhythm patterns

**“We Shall Not Be Moved”**

		Secular Union Protest Version
	1.	The union is behind us, we shall not be moved, The union is behind us, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain:
		We shall not be, we shall not be moved, We shall not be, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
	2.	We’re fighting for our freedom, we shall not be moved, We’re fighting for our freedom, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain
	3.	We’re fighting for our children, we shall not be moved, We’re fighting for our children, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain
	4.	We’re building a strong union, we shall not be moved, We’re building a strong union, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain
	5.	Black and white together, we shall not be moved, Black and white together, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain
	6.	Young and old together, we shall not be moved, Young and old together, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain



		Sacred Version
	1.	When my burden’s heavy, we shall not be moved, When my burden’s heavy, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain
	2.	The church of God is marching, we shall not be moved, The church of God is marching, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain
	3.	Don’t let the world deceive you, we shall not be moved, Don’t let the world deceive you, we shall not be moved, Just like a tree that’s planted by the river, We shall not be moved.
		Refrain

	Encourage students to compose original verses!

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We’re Riding Our Bicycles

Introducing the dotted quarter in 6/8 time and mastering the beginning Orff/Kodaly interval So\Mi.

Description

Grade: First
Origin: Children’s Song
Key: D Major
Time: 6/8
Form: ABAB
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti ti ti ti ti ti | running eighth notes, | ti ti ti ta/ |
Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
Intervals: intermediate: So\Mi, Mi/So, So/Do, Do/Fa
Musical Elements: notes: dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, running eighth notes
Key Words: contrast: round and around, riding, bicycles, contraction: we’re (we are)

**“We’re Riding Our Bicycles”**
We’re riding our bicycles, riding our bicycles, Round and around, round and around. We’re riding our bicycles, riding our bicycles, Round and around, round and around.

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We’re Sailing Down the River

Advanced syncopation in 6/8, tempo change to 2/4, and a distinct sounding interval So\Ti (minor 6th).

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Sea Chantey, Play Party*, Folk Song
Key: F Major
Time: 6/8 and 2/4
Form: staves: ABCDCE – song: ABA
Rhythm: advanced: 6/8: | ta ti ta ti | syncopation, | ti ta/a ti | syncopation, | ta/a ti | ti ta/ ti ti | syncopation, | ta/ ta/ | ta/a (ti) |
2/4: | ti ti ri ti ri ti ri | syncopation, | ti ti ti ti |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi So
Intervals: intermediate: Mi/So8\Mi (m3), Do\So (P4), La/Do\La (m3), So\Ti (m6), Ti/Re (m3), So8\Do (P5)
Musical Elements: notes: dotted quarter, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, pickup beat, time signature change from 6/8 to 2/4 (tempo increase), three eight notes equal one dotted quarter note, syncopation, D.C. al Fine, Fine
Key Words: USA – history, play party song, social dancing, sea chanty, USA geography: Ohio River; sailing, down below, jump, over, middle; contraction: can’t (cannot), we’re (we are)

* Play-party: social event for singing and dancing, when dancing was banned by religion in the southern and mid-western United States.

**“We’re Sailing Down the River”**
We’re sailing down the river, We’re sailing down below, We’re sailing down the river, On the Ohio. Two in the middle and you can’t jump over! Two in the middle and you can’t jump over! Two in the middle and you can’t jump over! Oh, Miss Susan Brown!

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Welcome to Spring

“Songs of a Little Child’s Day”
Times and Seasons

Introducing poco ritardando and a tempo.

.

Description

Grade: First
Origin: Emilie Poulsson, Eleanor Smith
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABA
Rhythm: intermediate: | ta ti ti ta ta | ta ta ta/a |
| ta/a ta ti ti | ta/a/a (ta) | ta ta ta ta | ta ta ta ti ti |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La
Intervals: intermediate: Do\La, So/Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio, So\Do, Do/Fa, Mi\Do, Do/La, So\Mi, Fa\Re, Re\La
Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, quarter, eighth; rest: quarter; tempo: con spirito/with spirit, poco ritardando, a tempo; dynamics: mezzo forte/medium loud, crescendo, decrescendo
Key Words: seasons, earth science, weather patterns, Spring, March, April, May, breezy, fair, merry, lovely, time; abbreviations: show’ry (showery), flow’ry (flowery); possessive: Winter’s

**“Welcome to Spring”**
Welcome the merry time of Spring, March, April, May. March so breezy, April show’ry, Lovely May so fair and flow’ry; Welcome the merry time of Spring, Winter’s away.

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Weggis Song

Extended range, tonic octave skip and tonic arpeggios,
and an interval of a minor seventh (m7, Ti/La).

Description

Grade: Fifth
Origin: Switzerland – Folk Song
Key: E flat Major
Time: 4/4
Form: AB – verse/refrain
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ti ti | ta ta ta/a |
| ta ti ti ta ta | ta ti ti ta/a | ta/a ta/a | ta/a ta ta |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi So La Do – extended range
Intervals: advanced: So/Do (P4), Re\La/Re (P4), Re\Ti (m3), Ti/La8 (m7), So8\Ti (m6), Do/La8 (m6), Do/Mi\Do (M3), Do/Do8 ascending tonic octave skip, So8\Mi\Do descending tonic arpeggio (I, Eb)
Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, eighth; verse/refrain, two double barlines, melodic rhythm patterns, interval of a minor seventh (m7), tonic octave skip, tonic arpeggio
Key Words: world geography: Switzerland; Lucerne (city in north-central Switzerland), Weggis (municipality in the district of Lucerne); vocal yodel sounds (holdiridia, holdia,), girls, boys, climb, will
Recorder: intermediate: playing in F major, introducing high F, melodic rhythm patterns, tonic octave skip, tonic arpeggio

**“Weggis Song”**

	1.	From Lucerne to Weggis on, Holdiridia, holdia, Shoes and stocking we have none, Holdiridia, holdia.
		Refrain:
		Holdiridia, holdiridia, holdiria. Holdiridia, holdiridia, holdiria.
	2.	Weggis starts to highest hill, Holdiridia, holdia, Boys and girls climb with the will, Holdiridia, holdia.
		Refrain:
		Holdiridia, holdiridia, holdiria. Holdiridia, holdiridia, holdiria.
	3.	On the lake we all shall go, Holdiridia, holdia, See the pretty fish below. Holdiridia, holdia.
		Refrain:
		Holdiridia, holdiridia, holdiria. Holdiridia, holdiridia, holdiria.

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The Weather Vane

“Songs of a Little Child’s Day”
Times and Seasons

Mastering the ascending and descending tonic intervals Do/Mi\Do (Major 3rd), and Do/So\Do (Perfect 5th).

Description

Grade: First
Origin: Emilie Poulsson, Eleanor Smith
Key: E Flat Major
Time: 2/4
Form: ABCD
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti ti ti ti | ta ti ti | ti/ ri ti ti |
Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi, Mi\Do, Do/So, So\Do, Fa\Re, So\Mi
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, dotted eighth, sixteenth; pickup beat, multiple endings, tempo: moderato/moderately (86-97 BPM), horizontal accent (sing/play pitch a little louder/stronger), repeat signs
Key Words: earth science, wind directions, weather vane, weatherman, sock vane, steeple, weather vane, upon, people, showing, blowing, compass directions, North, East, South, West
Recorder: advanced: upper grades, upon completing the Beginning Recorder Songs

**“The Weather Vane”**
Look up, look up, good people! For high upon the steeple The weather vane has turned again! ‘Tis pointing North and showing That North Wind now is blowing. Look up, look up, good people! For high upon the steeple The weather vane has turned again! ‘Tis pointing East and showing That East Wind now is blowing. Look up, look up, good people! For high upon the steeple The weather vane has turned again! ‘Tis pointing West and showing That West Wind now is blowing. Look up, look up, good people! For high upon the steeple The weather vane has turned again! ‘Tis pointing South and showing That South Wind now is blowing.

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