Emily Crocker Music

Are you like me? I love a song that tells a story...when the exposition builds to a high point and then resolves to joy, sorrow, heartfelt emotion. "Red Dirt Girl" is a critically acclaimed song by Emmy Lou Harris that masterfully explores Southern working-class struggles, the loss of youth, and the fading of childhood hope. I'm thrilled to be able to arrange it for SSA choirs. It dips into to some difficult topics, so might not be for every choir, but for women's choirs with some maturity, please take a look at it. It will require TLC, but the rewards will be many. Best performed with guitar, bass and violin, you'll want to feature an alto soloist with some huskiness in the voice. Great for building a program segment around American "roots" music. Score Video  here. More info, purchase sheet music here.

  I love Joni Mitchell! And I played the 1974 album Court and Spark  pretty much constantly throughout the seventies. And it still gives great vibes in the present day. One of my favorite songs on the album is "Help Me," It's got great rhythmic vitality and sassy playfulness and when I got the chance to arrange it, I created a setting for SSA that I think will really appeal to high school women's choirs. It is a mix of pop and vocal jazz, with opportunities for soloists. Rhythm section parts are also available, for true authenticity.  Celebrate this great artist and have some fun! Check out the video score and purchase here . For additional new titles click here .

It's been another journey through a year of composing and arranging for me and a REWARDING trip it has been. I am branching out into different styles, different genres and different publishers. If you normally think of me as a composer for elementary and middle school, don't worry, you'll still see several works for this age group.  However, I have stretched a bit creatively with music for SSA at the high school level and up, including some new pieces in my reflections on famous artworks.  Thanks to all my collaborators, editors, engravers, producers, publishers and friends who perform my compositions.  Hope you have a great year of choosing repertoire. Do not hesitate to reach out if you are looking for something specific or have questions. Contact me at my  website . Scroll down to view 2-Part, SSA, TB and Mixed selections. Click on the links for more information, to purchase or to listen/view ScorePlay videos. And as a reminder, the most complete way to explore al...

  REMARKS FOR NEBRASKA MEA Emily Crocker www.emilycrockermusic.com I was told that when I was three years old, I could sing for three hours without repeating a song. So, I think that is where I got my start in music. My mother sang around the house, we had the radio, and we had church, so I was always around music. When I was seven, I started piano lessons which I continued through high school. In junior high, I joined the band and the choir. Interesting side story, my 8 th grade choir teacher was Joyce Eilers, who later went on to become a well-known writer for young choirs. So later on, it made me think... “You know, if Miss Eilers can write music, maybe I can write music!” I’ve had other experiences that contributed to my world, when I was 19, I toured American Military Bases in Asia with the USO. I’ve played in bands, sung in choirs, founded and conducted choirs, and for almost 30 years, I was head of choral publishing at Hal Leonard. I believe that a composer’s vo...

New Emily Crocker Publications So glad to enjoy another year of friends and music! And happy that I've had a creative year of composing and arranging. Thankful to all my *helpers* who edit, engrave, record, publish and promote my music! (You know who you are!) And especially Jack, who provides hours of entertainment during periods of writer's block!  Africa (TB and piano, Hal Leonard) This one started out as self-published, but Hal Leonard has taken it into their catalog. There are lots of popular arrangements of this Toto hit, but no TB voicing. This one is easy and fun for middle school and up, with a high (cambiata) tenor part.  CLICK HERE Down in the Valley  (TB, with piano an opt. harmonica or other obbligato instrument, Shawnee Press) I've always loved this song, and grateful that Greg Gilpin found a place for it in the Shawnee Press choral catalog. Crafted to be in the vocal sweet spot for range and tessitura, this nostalgic American folk song is arranged for begin...

 New Crocker titles on PML It's always exciting to see the new PML additions each year. So much goes into the process, from the submissions by publishers and teachers, to AMAZING work by the committee, to the programming by UIL, the announcements, and finally, the concert performances by mixed, treble and tenor bass ensembles. I'm pleased to announce several new works of mine or my series have been added and I hope that you'll consider them in selecting your UIL programs. For a complete list of Emily Crocker PML titles:  CLICK HERE Tenor-Bass, Grade 2 The French love their onions as you can hear in this French marching song from the 1800s. The verses tell the story (in compound meter) and the refrain helps the marchers stay in step (in duple meter). Impressive sounding and easily learned! Just a very little French to learn, but an excellent showpiece for young tenor-bass ensembles. For TB with piano. Treble, Grade 3 “Winter Eve” takes its text from the poem “Good Hours” by ...