Emily Crocker - New Choral Music for 2024
Thank you for visiting this page. In terms of composing and arranging, I’ve had an interesting and rewarding year. Perhaps I have finally acclimated to this stage of life, post-9-to-5 and post choir directing, or maybe I’ve just allowed myself to explore what was always waiting for me. My WHAT'S NEW page lists everything that is new so feel free to poke about there, but I thought I would put down some thoughts regarding the new directions you may see among these new releases.
HAL LEONARD
After spending 28 years at the Mother Ship in Milwaukee, I wanted to start with my new Hal Leonard titles. We’re all super excited that Hal Leonard and Musescore have joined together for even more distribution opportunities. If you are a Musescore subscriber (and you should be), you’ll already find these titles published there officially and legally for downloading, printing and sharing. These are also available through your favorite traditional retailers as well.
Au Pas, Camarades (Song of the Onion)
This tune may seem a bit strange at first, but this French folksong dates to the time of Napoleon and was used as a marching song. It’s especially fun to teach to younger choirs because the verses tell the story (in compound meter) and the refrain helps the marchers stay in step (in duple meter). I’m pretty well-known for my arrangements of French folksongs, and I hope this carries on the tradition!
Candleglow
This is an original song that I originally wrote for Shawnee Press in 1987. I’ve updated it a bit and added two new voicings and I’m delighted that Greg Gilpin has included it in the Shawnee catalog this year. It’s great for Christmas and Hanukkah performances, although it doesn’t reference either holiday directly, but rather sings of candles in the window and snow falling. Very useful for winter concerts and easily learned!
I’ll Tell Me Ma
I love this Irish folksong and it was fun to arrange it for tenor/bass choirs in high school and up. It features stomps, claps and some whistling and catcalls for a rollicking light concert moment or encore.
Over My Head
For less experienced choirs, beginning of the year, or when you have only a short amount of rehearsal time, this spiritual fits! Good ranges, layered vocal lines and a great gospel feel!
Sound Patterns for Mixed Voices
At long last, the SAB edition of Sound Patterns is now available! This step-by-step method includes age and range appropriate songs with lyrics, dynamics, and accompaniment, along with preparatory exercises that are interesting, authentic, and flexible. Publications include individual Student Books, Teacher Edition (with online digital access), and value-packed Classroom Bundles.
Sound Patterns for Mixed Voices SAB
Welcome Yule
For school and community performances, this rollicking secular selection will set the perfect mood for your seasonal concerts!
The Other Wise Man
This mini-cantata was written in 1990 for Jenson Publications, but my husband Dean Crocker has recently orchestrated it and it was recorded by Joseph Martin. It will be a wonderful 20-minute addition to community and church programming, with a heart-felt and meaningful rendition of Henry van Dyke’s time-honored story.
ALFRED PUBLISHING
Beneath One Sun
Written in collaboration with John Jacobson for the Milwaukee Children’s Choir 30th Anniversary, this song of unity is easily learned and makes a great opener or finale for a variety of concerts. A simple “Amor est omne” (Love is everything) is the heart of this setting.
GALAXY PUBLICATIONS/ECS PUBLISHING
Horizon
A song of travel, of vision, of adventure and dreams – this selection is ideal for developing school choirs. Comes complete with an extensive online curriculum guide.
Winter Eve
The second of my SSA settings of Robert Frost poetry - the first was Fire and Ice SSA from Hal Leonard, this setting describes a solitary evening walk through a small village in winter. The music reflects this quiet mood through even pacing, gentle dissonance and thoughtful word stress. Ideal for Christmas/winter programming or contest/festival.
SELF-PUBLISHED PIECES/ARRANGE-ME
I have stretched out a bit this year with my pop arrangements. Some of these pieces were not previously available as chorals, or the voicing was not available. You will also find some concert pieces that were published back in the day that we're bringing back with fresh engravings and recordings.
So Many Stars
I’ve loved this song since I was in college and nearly wore out the Sergio Mendes album on the record player in the freshman dorm! It makes a very nice SSA jazz feature, not super easy, but doable.
Africa
Lots of popular arrangements of this Toto hit, but no TB voicing and this one is easy and fun, for middle school and up, with a high tenor part.
Drive My Car
Again, several arrangements out there, but no TB arrangement of this Beatles classic. Middle school singers will love it and you can sing parts of it in unison if you want.
Take It Easy
My first thought with this Eagles classic was to really simplify it, but the more I worked on it, the more I realized people want to sing the original, high tenor and all. To my knowledge, there is no published arrangement of this song. It’s somewhat mature, so check it out before passing it out! But high school, I would think.
The Miracle of Hanukkah
Reviving an older title from Jenson Publications. Easy-partner song type harmonies. A great Hanukkah feature for middle school singers.
The Miracle of Hanukkah 3-Part Mixed
Peace Carol
Canons are a great way to introduce harmony to younger singers. This song builds upon the classic canon “Dona Nobis Pacem” with an additional melody to create a wonderful secular selection that is ideal for Christmas and winter concerts. Optional flute obbligato.
NEW RECORDINGS
The following titles have new recordings available through www.emilycrockermusic.com
THANKS!
If you've made it to the end of this blog, wow, thank you! One more comment, a big thank you to those behind-the-scenes folks who make this happen: editors, producers, publishers: Dean Crocker, Stacey Nordmeyer, Luke Talen, Jeff Reeves, Scott Foss, Andy Beck, Joseph Martin, Alan Billingsley, Mike Wilson, and more!
Have a great year of choral singing, y'all!
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