POST WORKSHOP NOTES
Dance Flurry – Saratoga Springs, NY – Sunday, February 14, 2016
Gospel Harmony Sing
led by Peter & Mary Alice Amidon
First some announcements, then the notes:
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Many of the songs in our workshop are available on one of our two collections of Amidon arrangements and compositions:
* Twenty-five Anthems for Interfaith & Community Choirs
* Fifty-five Anthems for the Small Church Choir
and/or our
* Online Choral Store
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Sign up on our email mailing list for approximately once-monthly notices about upcoming Amidon workshops and publications. Just go to the Amidon website and sign up on the homepage:
* * *
MEET OUR BOYS & their ladies:
Stefan and Zara singing with the Starry Mountain Singers. Zara singing lead on the left, Stefan singing bass on the right.
Stefan on percussion/vocals and his wife (red head) Zara Bode with their band the Sweetback Sisters
Sam’s wife Beth Orton
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THE WORKSHOP NOTES
So Glad I’m Here – from the singing of Bessie Jones.
Here is Bessie singing it.
Sheep Sheep – from the singing of Bessie Jones.
Here is Bessie singing it.
My Heart Is Ready – by Cindy Kallet.
Here is Cindy singing it. Here is Mary Alice and the Starry Mountain Singers singing
I Still Have Joy – by Danny McCrimmon & Joseph Calvin Jackson
Here the
Time Has Made a Change – learned from Richard Moss, the late shape note leader associated most with the Christian Harmony collection. Here it is sung by our friend, the late Lucy Simpson. You can hear Mary Alice and I singing by scrolling down on our “Hymns & Ballads” web page.
Somebody Prayed for Me – by Dorothy Norwood & Alvin Darling
We learned this from Vermont’s own gospel leader/arranger John Harrison. Here it is sung by the great Dorothy Norwood.
Climbing High Mountains – as sung by Lucy Simpson
Here is Lucy Simpson singing it. Here is our son Sam Amidon’s version. I just did a piano/unison/SATB arrangement of it. This is available on our Online Choral Store.
I Will Guide Thee – traditional
We learned this old American hymn at the Sunday morning gospel sing of the Greater Boston Folk Music getaway weekend in New Hampshire in 1975, just two weeks after they first met. Here it is sung by the
I’m Gonna Lift My Sister Up – by Faya Rose Touré
we first learned this from the singing of Jane Sapp. Here it is sung by
When I Get Home – from the singing of Jeff and Gerret Warner.
This is the one you have the music for. If you lost it, here it is.
Crossing the Bar – poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, music by Rani Arbo
My arrangement of Rani’s setting is available both on “Twenty-five Anthems for Interfaith & Community Choirs” and our Online Choral Store.
- Peter's arrangement sung by the Hallowell hospice singers
- Peter’s arrangement as performed by the Resound Choir, Cambridge, England
- Rani Arbo’s performance of her setting (from “Some Bright Morning” CD)
Here Is My Home – by Si Kahn
This is a great! song for group singing. Here is Peter’s arrangement as sung by the
Yonder Come Day – traditional, as sung by Bessie Jones.
Here it is sung by Bessie Jones.
Angels Hovering Round – as sung by Lucy Simpson
Here it is sung by Lucy Simpson. Here it is sung by the
Bid You Goodnight – traditional spiritual from the Bahamas
Here it is sung by
The Flurry Gospel Harmony Sing has always been one of Mary Alice’s and my favorite events of the year. You are an amazing group of singers; keep on singing!
Best,
Peter (and Mary Alice)
https://www.amidonmusic.com