KATHRYN PARROTTA

by Kathryn Parrotta

SATB with piano – CP 1421   – duration 5:15
Kathryn poses several timeless questions and then answers, “Because He chooses His stars to share all their light.  Isn’t the sky a little brighter tonight?” Written for Kathryn’s fine youth choir, this song works in any season of the year.

by Kathryn Parrotta

SAB with piano – CP 2986   – duration 4:05
Written specifically for middle school/high school, Little Piece of Christmas addresses Christmas from perspective of a teenager or young adult reflecting on back what they remember about Christmases past.  It is about recognizing that you are growing up and are starting realize what is really important at this time of year , all while still wanting to feel that Christmas magic.  

by Kathryn Parrotta

SA and piano – CP 1331   – duration 3:55
This a a beautiful song for treble voices – about flying!

My choir used the imagery and sensation of flying in a dream above our beautiful earth and also the feeling of reaching the top of a roller coaster climb – before the big drop. This sensory teaching helped to achieve feelings of freedom and anticipation.  We discussed the lyrics and how they apply to their own life situations; the fear of flying alone, the will to try, and the desire to achieve.   KP

by Kathryn Parrotta

SAA a cappella – CP 2150   – duration 2:10
SAB a cappella – CP 2171
In 2020 the globe had a uniting experience. Including the Pandemic, there were many social movements that arose during the couple of years that followed. There was so much “noise” on social media that I needed to respond to it. One phrase that I kept hearing was “Do Better”. It was that simple. The phrase challenges us to simply be better humans, to listen to the people around us, and act on behalf of the collective good.

This piece was written for my choir of young teens who are invested in these social movements, have many things to say, and want to be heard. We had many wonderful discussions about the context, interpretation, and the issues they wanted to address. The singers were immediately energized by the message, body percussion, and simplicity of the speech-like melody. We added a cajon to emphasize the rhythmic intensity. I encourage directors to discuss the issues that matter most to their singers and add percussion and creative staging where desired.

by Kathryn Parrotta

SA (SSA) with piano – CP 2366   – duration 2:35
SAB with piano – CP 2390
SSAA available upon request
Blazing hour of sunset,
there’s fire within her eyes.
Autumn seeks her glory,
her chariot in the skies!

by Kathryn Parrotta

SATB and piano – CP 2370   – duration 4:30
As we grow older, we reflect on the beautiful moments in our lives. Remembering an afternoon in the sun, rocking a baby to sleep, or spending time a loved one brings a sense of nostalgia, wishing we could freeze time to simply live in those memories. This piece was written for the University of Calgary Chamber Choir and dedicated to my parents, who inspire me to live a life full of passion and no regrets.

by Kathryn Parrotta

SAB and piano – CP 1745   – duration 3:15
Kathryn’s arrangement is a fun way to sing a classic spiritual; high energy, up tempo, syncopated and easy! This will be a guaranteed success for the choir and a pleasure for the audience.
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That a little baby is born

arr. Kathryn Parrotta

SAB (SATB) a cappella – CP 2369  – duration 3:00

“INSIDE” is an energetic a cappella ear-worm for youth choirs. Perfect for themes of community, unity, and inclusion, “INSIDE” has a main message that “inside we’re all the same”. With basic body percussion and prescribed choreography (easy), singers will feel compelled to perform it with authority and conviction. This piece is a cousin to “Do Better”- both songs would be a perfect pairing for a performance.

arr. Kathryn Parrotta

SSAATB a cappella – CP 1144   – duration 2:55  
Kathryn Parrotta brings a warm, slightly “pop” feel to this traditional carol by Rosetti/Holst. The choral background provides a smooth (cool, but not cold) background for the soloist – soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone. Good for high school jazz choir. 

arr. Kathryn Parrotta

SAB with piano – CP 2591   – duration 3:10
SA with piano – CP 2592

by Kathryn Parrotta

SATB with piano – CP 2579   – duration 5:30
Take me to the Riverbend,
take me where the troubles end,
take me to the place where I belong.

The “Riverbend” is in this piece is a metaphor for wherever ‘home’ is- a place we return to to feel whole, comforted, understood, and loved.  I wrote this piece in 2025 for the choirs at the University of Calgary- the UCalgary Chorus and the UCalgary Chamber Choir. May they always feel that music is their Riverbend.

by Kathryn Parrotta

SSAA a cappella – CP 2987   – duration 2:10
I have always adored ‘wordless’ music- using syllables to express a story. It allows the music to speak for itself and the listener to be taken on a journey filled with imagination and innate emotion. Sanana is a made-up word for the purpose of this piece. However, with a little research one can find a few different origins of the word, all of which I enjoy, especially a variation a Sanskrit words meaning “timeless” or “eternal” which is particularly apt for this piece. It is a word also derived from Hispanic folklore representing “comfort” and “healing”.

Either way, there is no intention in this sense of the word, only that the “s” propels the biting intensity and the “na na” , when said quickly, brings the placement to the front of the tongue and front teeth. Dynamics will play an important role in the excitement so make them extreme!

I envision the sopranos and altos being on each side of the stage, respectively, so that the echo between the parts can be heard as kind of a doppler effect. Feel free to add sharp head turns and creative position to amplify this bouncing back and forth!

by Kathryn Parrotta

SSAA a cappella – CP 1864   – duration 4:25  
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu
For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space: