calling dramatists, singers, organists, musicians - anyone that knows church music.......

[HRHQueenOfQuelNoel]

and dramas please.

OK here's my dilema. Good Friday is 14 weeks tonight. Usually the "choir" puts on a performance - in previous years they've done Olivet de Calavary (sp?), and with me they've done Jerusalem Joy and Stainer's Crucifixtion.

On these occasions members of other choirs havecome and joined us - boosting our numbers up to around 40. However, this year our choir has depleted dramatically (I'm down to about 12 regulars - all Alto's and Soprano's - no men at all ) and I don't want people in the church to think the choir is doing "fine" by inviting other people in this year.

What I'm thinking of doing is an evening of anthems, hymns and shorts dramas (we've got some fabulous youngsters in the church who often do little sketches during the services and other events) based around Easter stuff. But I haven't got a clue where to start.

I need solos, duets, pieces for SA, or SSA, or SSAA?? with an Easter theme???? Also does anyone know of any short sketches or dramas (you know the 5 minute type ones (or perhaps slightly longer) that the young people could do (it's all in church so nothing that needs dramatic entrances or lots of scenery) also with an Easter theme???

Please help

oh and to any of you kind regulars that know nothing about it (and are pagans, atheists, gnositics, muslims etc etc) but are reading anyhow because you're nosey - I'm working tonight and tomorrow, so won't be around much - would appreciate some timely bumps

Can't think of anything right this moment HRH but will get my thinking cap on and come back to you. Jules x

I can vaguely remember singing "Surrexit pastor bonus" by Mendelssohn
on Google it says there's an Easter angel commentary and it is for women's voices

will think some more as used to do things like this

hello QoQ
my first thought is Pergolesi's Stabat Mater for SA voices. I know it's not strictly speaking an Easter theme but it is beautiful music and there is stuff in there for duets/solo/SA chorus pieces. (we are doing it in the new SATB version but the original is SA only)
what about the Chichester psalms (Bernstein)?
ermmmmm
will have a think and maybe CAT you? I am supposed to be working tonight so you haven't seen me right.....

I thought I might have some contributions to help with here HRH, but all our repertoire is/was SSATB for Easter
Are you up to arranging? Maybe stuff like This Joyful Eastertide could be rejigged for SSAA?
Can your vicar sing and is it he/she? I just wondered if you could do the Matthew Passion Gospel with the vicar as Jesus and a good, strong alto as the Narrator? I always thought this sounded so dramatic and moving and it is not that hard.

some sketches here

oh St Matthew Passion

quite tricky though?

[still not here btw, says HC whistling nonchalantly]

No, not the full-on one, HC, the plainsong with choral interjections one. Bar-ABBAS!

isn't Stabat Mater Mary's words when she see Christ on the cross - that's Easter isn't it? Because the Pergolesi is gorgeous - you should definitely try and do that

there is a Stanford Easter anthem "Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem" and also maybe there's something from the Bach Easter Cantata which has been arranged for women's voices

Plus anything about resurrection - e.g 'I know that My Redeemer Liveth' and also why not something from the Faure Requiem - maybe In Paradisium - that gets sung a lot at Easter. Don't know if there are any arrangements of the Seven Last Words either

Got no ideas on drama stuff though - I'm hopeless at all that!

I wondered about some of the V-W Five Mystical Songs too Georginars - maybe a good sop or alto could give Let All the World a go. And a top organ accompaniment for HRH to give it some welly on...
In Paradisum...ah, lovely. Faure is one of my faves - we had the Cantique de Jean Racine at our wedding

ooh, lovely - was just thinking of V-W as well, isn't one of them called Easter - is that the one you're thinking of (memory is failing me here). I love the Jean Racine - v.good choice

ooooh Jean Racine yesyesyes

[where are you QoQ and can I come??]

My mind has gone blank too - I think one of them is very Paschal in tone, entirely fitting with Herbert's position as one of our greatest divines.
The one I am thinking of is the fff one at the end - the setting of the hymn. Lots of blasty, joyful chords...
We used to do Faure as the parish mass setting for Remembrance Sunday. Oh, I so miss singing in a parish choir

The first RV is Easter - or alternatively 'Rise Heart' and is gorgeous, but you do need a decent baritone. For children I love 'There is a thing most wonderful' by Ireland - two parts, not hard. I think the Passion Marina is talking about is Victoria (or something like that).

That should be RVW btw!

yes I'm getting terribly excited about it now just reading about it.
I love planning music things - I get very carried away. I'm no good if I'm ever asked to plan orchestral concerts though because I just choose things by how much I like the clarinet part. Have been asked to play at a friend's wedding in July and will soon be presenting her with a CD from which she needs to choose something - poor thing won't know what's hit her

Aha, another expert (as opposed to a not properly trained but enthusiastic sop) has arrived. Rise Heart! of course. And it was indeed Victoria, thank you Torty.

oh and before I zooot off to work - not too complex please - the Stainer was a struggle for some of them last year LOL.

georginars, make her have the Guilmant or the Lefebure-Wely. I bottled out of the latter and had to get the former played for ds' baptism instead. Our organist at the time was a retired Cathedral DoM and as soon as he said Widor to my mother she put her foot down...he did nearly blow the roof off the church

Marina, shan't be doing the organ - will be playing the clarinet for register signing - but will certainly pass on your ideas as she hasn't a clue. At our wedding, I walked in to Grainger's Norwegian Bridal lullaby (the music from the beginning of Howard's End), played by our (Norwegian) best man on the piano because I just couldn't face the church organist (and no offence to you HRH) bashing something out. No Widor allowed!

Could probably find you some music by Salvation Army composers ie Surely he has borne our griefs, To thy cross I come Lord, plus loads more if we have a look.

Also for something thats totally gripping is Brian Adams Everything I do goes perfectly to the video clip of the crucifxion in Jesus of Nazereth with Robert Powell as Jesus. If you've access to video/telly or even better projector.

Also think one of our books has a sketch about Devil and one of his apprentices trying to come up with ways of killing Jesus and come up with idea of crucifying him, can find it if you want. Cat me will see what i can find. Especially as we not responsible for any prep work now.

What's your budget? this is a great anthology of mainly trad Easter stuff.