THE VANCOUVER YOUTH CHOIR SERIES
New Adventures for Youth Choirs

by Woodpigeon, arr. George Chung

SATB with piano – CP 1589 – duration 4:35
SSAA with piano – CP 1708

How long can you hold your breath? Imagine the trauma of being on a sinking vessel. This very cool song by Woodpigeon (Canadian band from Calgary) makes an exciting choral work with George’s arranging skills – complete with polyphony and canon.

by Diane Loomer

TTBB – a cappella –  CP 1007 – duration 3:55
SATB – a cappella –  CP 1218
SSAA version available upon request

Presented by many choirs since its publication, the is a favorite Nova Scotia Latin canticle with a simple harmonic arrangement.

by Diane Loomer

SATB – a cappella –  CP 1002 – duration 5:10

This arrangement based on “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” trades the familiar theme among all four voices, with each part taking its turn accompanying, yet it easily maintains the stylistic integrity of that beloved melody.

by Benjamin Sigerson

SATB with piano – CP 1757 – duration 7:30

“blue is a colour / thank you green” is a poem written by Jasmine Choi.  Benjamin set the text for the Vancouver Youth Choir with lush choral sounds and jazz sensibilities. It is a melancholy and gentle piece that explores relationships of colour and emotion – heart-break and love.

arr. Phillip Lapatha and Dorothy Dyck

SATB a cappella – CP 1872 – duration 4:05

This arrangement of the Irish folksong is musically characterized by lush harmonies, full texture, and a loyalty to the original strophic structure of the song.  The song tells the melancholic story of the Great Oak of Portmore, a grand tree and symbol of nationalistic pride for Ireland that fell in a great storm in 1760.  

by  Katerina Gimon 

SATB a cappella (vocalese)  $5.50   CP 1499 (EARTH) – duration 5:35
SATB a cappella (vocalese)  $5.50   CP 1500 (AIR) – duration 1:10
SATB a cappella (vocalese)  $5.50   CP 1451 (FIRE) – duration 1:35
SSAA a cappella (vocalese)  $5.50   CP 1635 (FIRE) – duration 1:35
SATB a cappella (vocalese)  $5.50   CP 1501 (WATER) – duration 3:50
SATB a cappella (vocalese)  $5.50   CP 1498 (COMPLETE SET) – duration 12:10

Elements was composed in 2013 and premiered in March 2014 by Laurier Singers under Lee Willingham. This set of works abstractly depicts the four classical elements and explores the wide range of capabilities of the human voice – from overtone singing, to vocal percussion, to colourful vocal timbres. This set of works is a 2016 SOCAN Young Composers Competition Winner, 2015 Vancouver Chamber Choir’ Young Composers’ Competition winner, and a 2014 IAWM Search For New Music winner.

by Corey Payette, arr. Elliot Vaughan

SATB with piano and drum – CP 2043 – duration 3:55
TTBB with piano and drum – CP 2044

by Emile Deedes-Vincke

SATB – with piano – CP 1817 – duration 4:30
From despair to hope, from darkness to light; commissioned by Laudate Singers, Ignite is a joy to sing. This original composition and poem is intended to inspire listeners with with a message of hope. Singers and listeners will reflect on the light within each of us.

The piano part falls nicely under the fingers. With long lines, a beautiful melody, and intuitive voice leading, this song is a great choice for choirs of all ages and abilities.

by Will Clements

SATB with piano – CP 2187 – duration 3:10
SSAATB with piano – CP 2188

Whether it’s dawn or dusk, there is rich beauty in the colours that surround us. Just like these pivotal moments in the day, our lives share a parallel when we are faced with loss and grief. Nightfall is an experiment in conveying the stretch of time during these extraordinary life events. Harmonic textures and ostinato patterns are used together to create a sense of the push and pull of time, giving the listener the chance to  experience the music in slow and fast motion. The text conveys these images further by describing these textures visually – the sun and moon’s dance in light and time.

by Jon Washburn

SATB – a cappella  – CP 1657 – duration 2:20

Listen to the exciting Vancouver Chamber Choir performance. This song is the tenth movement in Jon Washburn’s “A Dylan Thomas Christmas”. Several movements are also sold separately and this is one of them. The little drummer boy and friends visit the manger with a rhythmic welcome.

by David Baker, arr. Larry Nickel

SATB with piano – CP 1130 – duration 3 to 5 minutes depending on improvisation
TTBB with piano – CP 1336
SSA   with piano – CP 1347
SAB  with piano – CP 1516

Listen to the Chor Leoni performance. This song is a real cooker. Get on board and ride along British Columbia’s famous coastline. Baker’s railroad rhythm captures the excitement of one of BC’s landmarks – famous engine #2850 – the Royal Hudson.

by Jon Washburn

SATB – a cappella – CP 1658 – duration 4:55

Listen to the evocative Vancouver Chamber Choir performance and study the well crafted score. This song is the fourth movement in Jon Washburn’s “A Dylan Thomas Christmas”.  Several movements are also sold separately and this is one of them. It doesn’t get more Christmasy than this.

by Woodpigeon, arr. Greg Martin

SATB with piano – CP 1814 – duration 4:15

The gentle sentimental ballad Spirehouse reflects upon the constant challenge of accepting the vulnerability that accompanies heartfelt connection with another person.

by Jon Washburn

SATB – a cappella – CP 1650 – duration 4:50

Listen to the serene Vancouver Chamber Choir performance and study the score. This song is the lovely opening to Jon Washburn’s “A Dylan Thomas Christmas”.  Several movements are also sold separately and this is one of them.

by Allison Girvan

This classic French Canadian Folksong, is over 300 years old, and was sung by the Voyageurs and Coureur du Bois (pioneers) as they worked. Snappy rhythms and an unforgettable melody makes this piece stand apart.

by GiUng Lee

SATB – a cappella – CP 1633 – duration 3:35
Percussion and Bass guitar parts are available upon request (gratis).

Royal Canoe (Winnipeg, Canada) is a band on a mission to construct ambitious and inventive music that pushes against the boundaries of pop music. ‘Walk Out on the Water’, written in quasi-gospel style, is about resilience and perseverance- the whole world is telling you to accept your lot, but in spite of that, you persist. This catchy arrangement will have the audience singing the chorus line all the way home.

by Diane Loomer

SATB – a cappella –  CP 1119 – duration 3:35
TTBB – a cappella –  CP 1084

One of Chor Leoni’s favourite modern Christmas carols, this song is as warm and glowing as a glass of mulled wine.