Singing rounds is fun easy educational and can be done anywhere! Rounds introduce choirs to ensemble singing in harmony while eeping to their own lines Most of these rounds will sound well with an adult choir or a children s choir They can be used as warmup exercises or to focus on a particular musical idea They range from easy through medium difficulty to challenging and vary from two to six parts Use them to focus on a vocal or musical element: intervals rhythm articulation expression legato etc REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES Begin by singing a round many times in unison until it is memorized Divide the choir into two parts and when it sounds secure add the other parts Go bac to unison singing and add the dynamics and other musical features Then sing again in parts aiming for accuracy of timing pitch diction and expression Sing the rounds unaccompanied This helps a choir sing in tune hear other singers and gain confidence rather than relying on the accompaniment for support You may alter the speed and dynamics as you wish Change the starting pitch if it feels too high or low These rounds can also be played on instruments with or without the singers Percussion finger snaps or claps can be added (see musical features index) CHOIR DIRECTORS When using rounds as warmup exercises as the choir to focus on one vocal or musical aspect at a time The same round may be used at various times to focus on different musical ideas The ey to singing rounds cleanly is to accurately eep the pulse and rhythm As an extra challenge stop beating time while the choir is singing and see how well they eep together! Also try singing louder or softer with gradually controlled crescendos and diminuendos Divide your choir in different ways to vary the complexity of the exercise For example in a fourpart round: a) Divide into four voice parts: Soprano Tenor Alto Bass b) Mix up women and men into four equal sections c) Give each choir member a number ( ) and get them to eep to their line while those around them are singing theirs Choose no more than one or two rounds at a time aiming to mae them sound as musical as you can Use the musical features index to select aspects of singing you want the choir to focus on ENDING THE ROUNDS Decide how many times the round is to be sung and whether the voices are going to finish separately or together on a chord at a signal from you on whatever note they have reached (eg in round 9 all parts can stop on measure maing a chord of B maor) A fermata is placed over a note when the suggested end is in the middle of a round (eg rounds 0) MUSIC TEACHERS These rounds can be used to teach a particular musical characteristic (see musical features index) Singing rather than ust listening will improve students learning curve Although these SACRED ROUNDS are not for liturgical use there is a seasonal index to help the choir focus on a particular season Have Fun! Christopher Waler Summer 00 Edition 00808
Alleluia Alleluia (M) Accents; finger snaps; eeping the pulse; sequence Keep three strong beats in this irregular time signature Count the last bar carefully Alleluia Praise God (C) Accents; articulation; repeated notes; rests; scales; staccato Try this as fast as you can eeping clear ennunciation All That I Thin or Say (M) Harmony (added sixth); legato; scales; sequence; vowels Sing through the consonants and enoy the added sixth chord in the second measure Christ Is Risen from the Dead (C) Accents; articulation; dynamics; pulse; rests; rhythm; scales; vocal range Sing rhythmically with full value to the last sung note Christ has a long first vowel: Chrahist 5 Come and See (M) Finger snaps; staccato Pay attention to the accents and staccatos 6 Go Out to the World (E) Articulation; finger snaps; rhythm; sequence Finger snaps on beats and help this to swing 7 Have Mercy Have Mercy on Me (M) Consonants; dynamics/expression; harmony; legato; scales; sequence; tuning Grade the crescendos and diminuendos smoothly Enoy the augmented triad in measure two 8 I Will Praise You (E) Accents; staccato Aim for clear diction and rhythmic accuracy 9 I Will Proclaim Your Power (M) Consonants; dynamics Let this one build gradually with a strong onetoabar feeling 0 In the Hour of My Distress (C) Consonants; dynamics; harmony; repeated notes; scales; tuning; vocal range; vowels Sing slowly and pay attention to the tuning so that the whole tones and chromaticism are accurate Contents Love One Another (M) Consonants; scales; sequence; vocal range Keep descending intervals small so as not to go flat Sing through and lengthen the consonants Magnificat Anima Mea (C) Accents; articulation; consonants; finger snaps; eeping the pulse; modal; rhythm; vowels Keep a strong sense of the pulse Although written in six parts it may be sung in as few as two parts Merry Christmas to You (C) Modal; tuning This round uses a sharpened fourth (Lydian mode) Get gradually louder then softer My God I Always Hope in You (E) Compound time Let this one bounce along oyfully 5 My Spirit Reoices (M) Accents; arpeggios; consonants; harmony; sequence; triads; vocal range Feel this pulse as onetoabar Sing lines and lightly; lines and marcato 6 Nothing Is Impossible (M) Accents; harmony Be aware of the widening intervals: half step whole step minor third fourth fifth 7 One Thing I Hope For (M) Consonants; dynamics; harmony; legato; repeated notes; tuning; vocal range; vowels Sing through the consonants (n ng l v w m) Observe the marcatos in the last line 8 Open the Gates (M) Accents; rhythm; staccato; tuning; vocal range; vowels Mae the rhythm crisp and strong by use of the accents and staccato mars 9 Out of the Depths (E) Dynamics; legato; tuning Sing smoothly paying strict attention to the dynamics 0 Peace Be with You (E) Legato; scales Keep this soft and gentle Listen to the falling thirds between the parts
Plant Your Word in Our Hearts (E) Accents; finger snaps; rests; rhythm; triads Divide the choir into three parts and eep singing their own line sings line a and at a signal from you sings line b then bac to a To finish gradually diminuendo into silence Praise God with Sounding Trumpets (M) Accents; consonants; eeping the pulse; rhythm; scales; sequence; vocal range This has two time signatures Keep a strong beat and differentiate the accents and marcatos Praise God with Trumpets (E) Accents; Dorian mode; vocal range Keep a firm two beats in a bar This goes well with some added percussion Pray for Me As I Do for Thee (M) Dynamics; modal Gradually build the volume At the end each part holds Lord until all are singing unison D 5 Reoice in the Lord Always (E) Accents; eeping the pulse The last line has an implied syncopation Keep the pulse strong Accents 8 5 6 8 5 6 7 0 Anacrusis (upbeat) 6 8 5 5 Arpeggios 5 7 Articulation 6 7 8 0 Consonants 7 9 0 5 7 7 8 Dynamics/Expression 7 9 0 7 9 6 7 9 Finger snaps/claps 5 6 6 7 Harmony (added 6th) 7 (augmented triad) 0 (chromaticism) 5 (diminished 7th) 6 (added 6th) 7 (maor 7th) 7 (maor/minor) Degree of Difficulty 6 Send Forth Your Spirit (M) Accents; dynamics; finger snaps; rhythm Parts and repeat their own line Sing softly but rhythmically while the soloist is singing 7 Sing to the Lord a New Song (C) Accents; arpeggios; consonants; dynamics; finger snaps; harmony; eeping the pulse; rests; rhythm; triads; tuning; vocal range; vowels Mae this sound as azzy as you lie Careful with maor to minor in lines one and two! 8 We Believe (C) Articulation; consonants; eeping the pulse; scales; vocal range As they get to now this one speed up see how fast you can go still eeping the time exactly! 9 You Are My Refuge/Dios Mi Refugio (E) Dynamics; legato; triads; vowels Sing in English or Spanish Aim for smooth dynamics and legato singing 0 You Are the Holy One (M) Accents; articulation; modal; rhythm; vocal range Mae the dotted notes and Scotch snap rhythms very precise E= Easy 6 8 9 0 5 9 M= Medium Difficulty 5 7 9 5 6 7 8 6 0 C= Challenging 0 7 8 Especially for Children 5 6 8 9 6 8 0 5 9 0 Musical Features Keeping the pulse 5 7 8 Legato 7 7 9 0 9 Modal (Dorian) (Lydian) (Dorian) 0 (incomplete Aeolian) Repeated notes 0 7 Rests 7 Rhythm (dotted syncopated) 6 (dotted syncopated) 8 (syncopated) (dotted syncopated) 8 (dotted) (dotted) (multiple time signatures) 6 (syncopated) 7 (syncopated) 0 (dotted)
Scales 7 0 0 8 (whole tones: 0) Sequence 6 7 5 Staccato 5 8 8 Tonality Maor 5 6 8 9 5 7 8 0 5 6 Minor 0 6 9 9 Maor/Minor 7 / 5 8 6 0 / 7 9 5 7 9 9 / 6 0 8 0 6 7 5/8 8 Steps 5 7 0 5 0 9 Thirds 7 8 6 7 9 0 0 Fourths 7 8 6 Fifths 5 6 (9) 5 0 Time Signatures Triads 5 7 9 Tuning 7 0 7 8 9 7 Vocal range (extended) 0 5 7 7 8 0 Vowels 0 7 7 9 6/8 5 7/8 Multiple Index of Seasonal NonLiturgical Use Most of the rounds can be sung at any time Here are suggestions for your rehearsals in seasons and at other times: Advent 5 Christmas Presentation of the Lord 8 Lent 7 0 9 9 Easter 6 9 0 6 7 Ascension 8 Pentecost 6 0 6 Christ the King 8 Reconciliation 7 0 9 Morning/Evening Prayer 5 7 Intervals Sixths 7 8 Sevenths 9 7 Octaves 9 0 Funeral 7 9 Marian Feasts 5 Alleluias 5 6 Creed 8 Mission 5 6 9 Praise 8 9 7 5 7 Faith 5 6 8 0 Reflection 7 7 9 0 9 Supplication 7 0 9 9 Trust 6 9 5
6 [M] Alleluia Alleluia (eeping time) Christopher Waler [C] (q = ca 88) (q = ca 6) 8 7 F Al le lu ia al le lu ia al le lu ia 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved F Al le lu ia al le lu ia Praise God for the Alleluia Praise God (articulation and enunciation) Great King o ver Al le lu ia al le Πal le lu ia won ders that we see all the earth lu ia al le lu ia 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
Based on Psalm 9: All That I Thin or Say (maor and minor steps) 7 [M] Gently (q = ca 5) 8 6 Joyfully (q = ca 8) P All that I thin or may it please you this J God my strength my re may it please you this say day deem er day 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved f Christ dead Al le is le al le lu dead Christ Is Risen from the Dead (articulation and rhythm) ris en from the ris en from the lu ia al ia dead ris en from the Π[C] 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
8 5 [M] Come and See (maor and minor steps) 6 [E] Jauntily (q = ca 00) F Come and see come and fol low He is the Mes Al le lu Swing (q = ca 0) f Go come and see Je sus si ah 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved ia out to the world pro claim the Good News pro J J claim the Good News Al le Go Out to the World (eeping the pulse) lu ia Go 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
Have Mercy Have Mercy on Me (stepwise motion with augmented triad) 9 7 [M] (q = ca 00) b b b b Swing (q = ca 80) p Have mer cy on Have b mer cy on mer cy have me mer cy have me 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved I Will Praise You (thirds) f I will praise you as long as I live I will long as I live as 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved () U praise you God I will 8 [E]
0 9 [M] Based on Psalm 7 I Will Proclaim Your Power (steps thirds fourths and an octave) Confidently (h = ca 69) b b b b 0 [C] F I will pro I will pro I will pro and (q = ca 69) p your claim claim your your claim sal faith ful pow J won der ful va love 988 989 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved In the hour of Lord In the Hour of My Distress (maor and minor steps in a chromatic harmony) be Be my con so Roc in whom I er deeds tion my dis tress with me n la tion the put my trust Π00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
(q = ca b b 08) b P b b b b b b b b b cresc Love one an 5 love one an Love dim love one an Joyfully (q = ca 8) F Love One Another (rising sequence with rising sixths) oth er oth er as one an oth er as love one an I have loved oth I have loved 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved Mag ni fi cat mag ni fi cat a ni ma me a Can ta te can ta te Do mi no glo ri a! 6 Al le lu ia al le lu ia Magnificat Anima Mea (eeping the pulse amid chaos; Dorian mode) sem per oth er you er you O [M] [C] 985 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
[C] Merry Christmas to You (an encounter wtih the Lydian mode) [E] (q = ca ) b b b b F b b b b b b b b b b b b (q = ca 08) Mer ry Christ mas to () U N you and a Hap py New N Year A Mer ry Mer ry 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved 6 F 8 J My God I al ways My God I Always Hope in You (compound time) praise you more and hope in you and () U 988 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved more and more My
My Spirit Reoices (arpeggios scales and falling fifths) 5 [M] Joyfully (q = ca ) F My spir it re who God My (q = ca ) b b F b b b b b b on his oic es ser vant with wors name in God my fav or has mar vels for bless ed shall 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved Al le lu Al le lu Noth ing is im Nothing Is Impossible (steps thirds fourths and a fifth) ia ia pos si ble Sav ior looed me () U be My 6 [M] God can do all things 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
7 [M] One Thing I Hope For (falling sixths) 8 [M] (q = ca 8) P b b b One thing I J one thing for to live with in your days of my (q = ca 0) f b hope for which I long: house O God all the life 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved Open the Gates (rising phrase to a falling sixth) O pen the gates! O pen the gates! Let the b King of glo ry Ó in! 988 989 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
Based on Psalm 0 (q = ca 0) p Out of the Lord P hear Out of the Depths (a rising seventh and minor thirds) depths F hear my I my cry to cry cry 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved Peace Be with You (falling scales and a rising octave) Softly (q = ca 9) p () U Peace be with ceive the Ho ly you Re Spir it 988 989 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved Plant Your Word in Our Hearts (staying on one line and building the texture) (q = ca 6) ΠΠa b Al le lu ia al le lu ia ΠΠAl le lu ia al le lu ia! ΠΠAl le lu ia al le lu ia! (add this line instead of line a occasionally) Plant Let your it Word bear in fruit our in hearts us 988 989 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved you ing; p ing 5 9 [E] 0 [E] [E]
6 [M] Praise God with Sounding Trumpets (eeping the pulse in multiple time signatures) [E] Brightly (q = ca ) 6 f 8 Based on Psalm 7 Praise God with sound ing Praise God with lute and Praise God all you who have J J praise to God sing trum pets harp breath praise! 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved Joyfully (q = ca 76) cresc F 6 8 Praise Praise God with Trumpets (rising fourths; Dorian mode) God with trum pets Praise God with songs Pro J J claim Good News to N (U) all of the earth Praise sing 988 989 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
Pray for Me As I Do for Thee (controlled crescendo Dorian mode fourths and falling thirds) Adapted from a prayer of St Thomas More 5 (q = ca 9) P cresc 6 8 N Pray for me as 6 (q = ca 8) b b I do for thee un til we mer ri ly meet in the J J King dom of the Lord 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved F b 6 8 Re b Reoice in the Lord Always (stepwise with a rising fifth) oice in the Lord al ways a J gain I say Re () U oice! Re 7 [M] 5 [E] 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
8 6 [M] Based on Psalm 0 Solo line (q = ca 8) p f p p 5 Send forth your Send forth your Send forth your ΠO For O In Your f f 5 Send forth your Send forth your Send forth your w are light age ly soul Send Forth Your Spirit (syncopation and dynamics) [Build up lines and Keep singing and add the solo line] bless the you in God you wisdorich es Spir it re Spir it re Spir it re Lord my ma es soul ty made the earth you have made fill the earth Spir it re Spir it re Spir it re new the face of the earth new the face of the earth new the face of the earth Lord God are clothed stand firm your wors O bless how in from most the new the face of the earth new the face of the earth new the face of the earth 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved w w great glo age glo Lord w w you rious to riousmy
Sing to the Lord a New Song (maintaining the pulse and eeping the character of each line) Based on Psalm 9 5 Swing (q = ca ) F Sing to the Praise God mel o faithful (e = ca 60) 8 5 f We one b Lord a new praise God you dy with Sing your praise with re N song in the J faith ful lyre and tambourines oicing r with 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved be lieve God earth; and in God We Believe (5/8 time discords and scales) we be lieve great b Fath er al might y Je sus Christ We be lieve in the assem bly J danc ing and Πyou to your Ma er 9 7 [C] we be lieve in ma er of heav n and on ly Son of J Ho ly Spir it Π8 [C] God who is Three in One! 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved
0 9 [E] Based on Psalm 6 0 [M] (q = ca 0) p You Dios are mi day di God Dios ref fu F Firmly (q = ca 8) You Are My Refuge/Dios Mi Refugio (legato singing) of a uge gio my re my de ref fu trou do uge gio ble lor in en O Mi you es are mi 00 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved You are the Ho ly One of You give us You Are the Holy One (dotted rhythm) Al le lu the el my re ΠJ Ho ly One the God life for ev er ia! 990 Christopher Waler Published by OCP Publications 556 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97 All rights reserved