The Wren Song

Variations in rhythm patters to match syllables for changing verses, recognizing the interval So\Re as perfect fourth (P4) and Re/So and a perfect fifth (P5), and a tonic arpeggio.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: Ireland – Folk Song
Key: G Major
Time: 6/8
Form: ABab
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ti ta ti | syncopation,
| ti ti ti ta ti | ti ti ti ti ti ti |
Pitches: beginners: So Do Re Mi So partial pentatonic scale
Intervals: intermediate: So/Do/Mi/So ascending tonic (I) arpeggio (G) with repeated pitches; So\Re (P4), Mi\Do (M3), Re\So (P5), Fa\Re (m3)
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, tonic arpeggios, recognizing So\Re and a P4 and Re\So as a P5, variations in rhythm patterns to match lyric syllables
Key Words: world geography: Ireland, United Kingdom; Saint Stephen’s Day: St. Stephen’s Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint’s day to commemorate Saint Stephen, celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and 27 December in the Eastern Church; Wren, king of birds, although, honor, great, me lads, treat, followed, three miles, through, hedges, ditches, leaps of snow, six o’clock, morning, hunt upon, wattle brought, show up all, box, under, tuppence, penny, no harm, boys, St. Stephens’s Day; abbreviation: ‘ll (will), possessive: Stephen’s

**“The Wren Song”**

	1.	The wren the wren, the king of all birds, Saint Stephen’s Day was caught in the tree; Although he was little, his honor was great, Jump up, me lads, and give us a treat!
	2.	We followed the wren three miles or more, Three miles or more, three miles or more, Through hedges and ditches and leaps of snow, At six o’clock in the morning.
	3.	As I went out to hunt and all, I met a wren upon the wall, Up with me wattle and give him a fall, And brought him here to show you all.
	4.	I have a little box under me arm, A tuppence or penny ‘ll do it no harm, For we are the boys that came you way To bring in the wren on St. Stephen’s Day.

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The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies

"Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies," Lyrics, Text Format

Beginner’s syncopation and extending the vocal range.

Description

Grade: Third
Origin: England – Ballad
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABCD
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ti ti | ta ti ti ta ta |
| ta ta ta/ ti | syncopation, | ti ti ta ta ti ti |
| ta ta ti ti ti ti |
Pitches: intermediate: La Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti
Intervals: intermediate: Do\La, La/Mi, Mi/La8, So\Mi, Mi/So, Re\La, Re/So, Mi\La
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, vocal slur
Key Words: world geography, England, ballad, gypsy, downstairs, singing high, singing low, Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea, first, second, third, servants, inquiring; contraction; she’s (she is)

**“The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies”**

		1.	There was three gypsies a-come to my door, And downstairs ran this lady, O! The first sang high and the second sang low, And the third sang “Bonny, bonny Biscay O!”
		2.	It was late last night when my lord came home, Inquiring for his a-lady, O! The servants said on every hand, “She’s gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O!”

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Worried Man Blues

Melodic and rhythmic variations to match changing verse syllables.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Traditional Folk Song
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABAC
Rhythm: intermediate: | ta/ ti ta ta | syncopation,
| ta/a/a ta | ta/a/a ti ti | ta/a/a/a | – rhythm changes with each verse
Pitches: beginners: So La Ti Do Re Mi
Intervals: beginners: La/Do (m3), Do\La (m3)
Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, tied notes, melodic and rhythmic variations to match verse syllables
Key Words: USA – history, prisoner’s song, worry, worried man, across, river, laid, sleep, twenty-one links, chain, around, judge, fine, asked, Rocky Mountain Line, Rocky Mountain Railroad, should, ask, anyone, composed, song, blues, shackles, woke up, chain link, chain, initials, day; contractions: won’t (will not), what’s (what is)

**“Worried Man Blues”**

		Refrain
		It takes a worried man to sing a worried song. It takes a worried man to sing a worried song. It takes a worried man to sing a worried song. I’m worried now, but I won’t be worried long.
	1.	I went across the river and I laid down to sleep. I went across the river and I laid down to sleep. I went across the river and I laid down to sleep. When I woke up, there were shackles on my feet.
		Refrain
	2.	Twenty one links of chain around my leg. Twenty one links of chain around my leg. Twenty one links of chain around my leg. And on each link, the initials of my name.
		Refrain
	3.	I asked the judge what’s gonna be my fine. I asked the judge what’s gonna be my fine. I asked the judge what’s gonna be my fine. Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain Line.
		Refrain
	4.	If anyone should ask you who composed this song. If anyone should ask you who composed this song. If anyone should ask you who composed this song. Say it was me and I sing it all day long.
		Refrain

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Wondering

Introducing a minor tonality where the tonic is the 6th (La) of the major scale.

Description

Grade: First
Origin: Bohemian Folk Song
Key: D Minor, pitches reflect A Flat Major
Time: 4/4
Form: AABA
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ti ti ta ti ti | ta ta ta/a |
Pitches: intermediate: La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So
Intervals: intermediate: La/Mi, La/Do, Mi/So
Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, eighth; minor tonality where La is the tonal center
Key Words: clouds, night, moon, far away, distant, sky, which, you or I, miles away, questions of wonder; abbreviation: silv’ry (silvery)

Video reviewing Solfeggio Format and singing ‘loo’ using the Music Format may be viewed here.

**“Wondering”**

		1.	Where are the clouds that were here last night? Why does the moon give a silv’ry light? Who can tell? Who can say? When will tomorrow be yesterday?

		2.	How far away is the distant sky? How do we know which is you or I? Who can tell? Who can say? How many miles would be far away.

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Wishy Washy

Advanced rhythms for voice and keyboard.

Description

Grade: Second
Origin: England – Singing Game
Key: E Major
Time: 6/8
Form: ABaB
Rhythm: advanced: | ta/ ta/ | ta ti ta ti | syncopation, | ta ti ta/ | syncopation,
| ta/a ti | syncopation
Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi Fa So
Intervals: beginners: Re/So, So\Mi
Musical Elements: notes: dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, fermata, tied notes
Key Words: world geography, England, sailor, lately, sea, another, along
Keyboard: intermediate: five finger exercise for right, left, and two hands together

**“Wishy Washy”**
Oh, we are two sailors lately come from sea, And if you want another one, come along with me. Oh, wishy washy, wishy washy, wishy washy, we, And if you want another one, come along with me.

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The Wind

Introducing the ascending interval 2nd to 5th, Re/So and two descending tonic arpeggios with repeating pitches.

Description

Grade: Second
Origin: England – Folk Song
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: AAB
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ta | ta/a ta/a |
| ta/a/a/a |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi So
Intervals: intermediate: Re/So, So\Mi\Do descending tonic arpeggio, So\Mi\Do\So descending tonic arpeggio
Musical Elements: notes: whole, half, quarter; rest: half
Key Words: earth sciences, weather, wind directions, North, East, South, West, seasons, beast, neither, clover, corn, clover, best, brings, drifting, snow, jolly, gentle, their, petals, unclose; abbreviation: flow’rs (flowers); contraction: it’s (it is); conjunction: nor

**“The Wind”**

	1.	When the wind is in the East, It’s neither good for man nor beast, It’s neither good for man nor beast.
	2.	When the wind is in the West, The corn and clover grow the best, The corn and clover grow the best.
	3.	When the jolly North Wind blows, It brings the cold and drifting snows, It brings the cold and drifting snows.
	4.	When the gentle South Wind blows, The flow’rs their petals all unclose, The flow’rs their petals all unclose.

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Who’s That Tapping at the Window?

"What Are Little Boys - Girls Made Of?" Lyrics, Text Format

Developing an independent voice.

Description

Grade: Kindergarten
Origin: USA – Singing Game
Key: F Major
Time: 2/4
Form: AaAa
Rhythm: beginners: | ta/a | ti ti ti ti | ta ta |
| ta (ta) |
Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi So
Intervals: beginners: Do/So, So\Re, Mi\Do, reinforces the ascending perfect fifth (P5) Do/So
Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, eighth; rest: quarter; call/response, independent singing
Key Words: who, tapping, window, door, singing alone
Keyboard: beginner: four finger exercise for right, left, and two hands together

Call:Who’s that tapping at the window?
Who’s that knocking at the door?Response:I am tapping at the window.
I am knocking at the door.

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Who is Singing Low?

Discovering the independent voice
with the beginning Orff interval So\Mi.

Description

Grade: Kindergarten
Origin: Traditional
Key: C Major
Time: 2/4
Form: AB
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta | ti ti ta |
Pitches: beginners: Mi So
Intervals: beginners: So\Mi, Mi/So, – beginning Orff interval
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth; independent singing, call/response
Key Words: singing, low, know, independent voice, singing alone, beginning tune
Keyboard: beginners: two finger exercise for right (5-3), left (1-3), and two hands together

Call:Who is singing low?Response:It is me, don’t you know?

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Who Has the Penny?

Promoting the independent voice.

Description

Grade: Kindergarten
Origin: Author Unknown
Key: F Major
Time: 2/4
Form: AABB
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ti ti | ta ta | ta (ta) |
Pitches: beginners: Do Mi So
Intervals: beginners: So\Mi, Mi/So, Mi\Do
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth; rests: quarter; reinforces pitches of the tonic triad, call/response
Key Words: penny, pin
Keyboard: beginners: three finger exercise for right (5-3-1), left (1-3-5), and two hands together

Call:Who has the penny?

Response:

I have the penny.

Call:

Who has the pin?

Response:I have the pin.

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Who Built the Ark?

"Who Buil the Ark?," Lyrics, Text Format

Syncopated rhythms and an advanced interval So/Fa.

Description

Grade: Third
Origin: USA – African American Spiritual
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABA refrain/verse/refrain
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti ta ti ta (ta) | syncopation, | ta ti (ti) ta ti (ti) | ti ta ti ta ti ti | syncopation, | ta ta ta ta | ta ti ta/ (ta) | syncopation, | ta ta ta ti ti | ti ti ti ta/ (ta) | syncopation
Pitches: intermediate: So La Do Re Mi Fa
Intervals: advanced: Do\La, La/Mi, So/Fa, So/Do, Do/Mi, Mi\Do
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth; rests: quarter, eighth; repeat sign, two double bars, tied notes, verse/refrain
Key Words: sacred, animals science, Bible stories, Noah, ark, animals, hippopotamus, kangaroo, cats, bumble bee, window, door, hive, elephant, window, door, laughed, monkey, tricks, giraffe, camels, heaven, voyage, one by one, two by two, etc.;
abbreviations: cryin’ (crying), fallin’ (falling); contractions: rain’s (rain is), can’t (cannot)

**“Who Built the Ark?”**

			Refrain

			Who built the ark? Noah, Noah, Who built the ark? Brother Noah built the ark.

		1.	Now didn’t old Noah build the ark? Built it out of a hickory bark. He built it long, both wide and tall, Plenty of room for the large and small.

			Refrain

		2.	In came the animals two by two, Hippopotamus and kangaroo. In came the animals three by three, Two big cats and a bumble bee.

			Refrain

		3.	In came the animals four by four, Two through the window and two through the door. In came the animals five by five, The bee came swarming from the hive.

			Refrain

		4.	In came the animals six by six, The elephant laughed at the monkey’s tricks. In came the animals seven by seven, Giraffes and the camels looking up to heaven.

			Refrain

		5.	In came the animals eight by eight, Some was on time and the others was late. In came the animals nine by nine, Some was a laughin’ and some were cryin’.

			Refrain

		6.	In came the animals ten by ten, Time for the voyage to begin. Noah said, “Go shut the door, The rain’s started fallin’ and we can’t take more.”

			Refrain

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