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 MixingMelodiesMakesMarvelousMusic
is a
unique series
of compositions written for high, medium-high,
medium, and
low voices to be sung as solos,
duets, trios, quartets, or in a choral
setting.
Each part is written to be sung
alone
or in combination with any of
the other parts.
Another unique feature
is that the parts are limited to the
ranges of singers who are experiencing vocal mutation although
they may be sung by people of all ages provided their voices are suitable
to the range of a particular part.
Often beginning readers have difficulty following one specific
part in a multiple-score setting, therefore each
part is published separately to aid singers who are learning
to read music.
Part 1 is
recommended for lyric sopranos or tenors. Adolescent first sopranos may
sing this part with ease, but it may not be suitable for changed-voice
adolescent tenors because the tessitura will be uncomfortable. High boy
trebles also will enjoy this part.
Part 2 is
designed for sopranos and tenors with slightly heavier voices. Although
the part may contain notes just as high as those in part 1, the overall
tessitura will be more comfortable. In a choral setting, second sopranos,
second tenors, and possibly lyric baritones will be suited to this part.
This part is also well-suited for boy trebles and elementary-aged singers.
Part 3 is
written for older adolescent and adult altos. Also, when sung at actual
pitch it is particularly suited for cambiatas (boys in the first phase
of voice change). With few exceptions, the range lies between A above and
A below middle C. Although the range is appropriate for females who sing
alto, it is not recommended that young adolescents girls sing this part
exclusively because it does not give them the opportunity to use pitches
produced in head phonation thus resulting in chest-singing only, which
is vocally unhealthy. As soloists, or in duets and trios, basses may also
sing this part 8va down. It usually doesn't sound well when used as a bass
part in four-part singing.
Part 4 is
very flexible. Inexperienced male singers who are in various stages of
range development and boys who have just entered the second phase of voice
change (adolescent baritones) will be able to find a suitable note to sing
in this part because when the part moves above middle C or beneath D below
middle C, optional notes have been added for the sake of comfort. They
will be able to use the comfortable singing tessitura of the voices which
is essential for good vocal health at this point in their development.
With all-female voices (SSAA), it may be sung by the first alto.
Directors will achieve
better results when singing these parts in a choral setting
if they will consider the following recommendations:
Early adolescent mixed
chorus: Assign part 1 to first sopranos and part 2 to second
sopranos and/or altos. Part 3 sounds best when sung by cambiatas but if
you are short of cambiatas and have plenty of girls, altos may also be
assigned to this part. Cambiatas seem to operate better when girls are
assigned to the cambiata part instead of assigning cambiatas to a part
designated "alto," so it is always best to refer to this part as the "cambiata"
part. The girls usually don't mind. Part 4 is for adolescent baritones
(second phase of voice change) and changed voices.
Older adolescent and adult
mixed chorus: An SATB sound results when part 1 is assigned
to sopranos, part 2 to tenors, part 3 to altos, and part 4 to baritones
and basses. If the choir has mostly women and few men, which is often the
case, divide the women three ways: Part 1 to first sopranos, part 2 to
second sopranos, part 3 to altos, and part 4 to all the men. A fuller,
more satisfying four-part sound results which is advantageous to employing
the compromising approach of singing SAB.
Women's chorus:
For best results assign part 1 to first sopranos, part 2 to second sopranos,
and part 3 to altos. This is a very pleasing SSA effect. It you want an
SSAA sound, you may assign part 4 to first altos and part 3 to second altos.
Men's chorus (early
adolescent singers, mid-level age): Due to the difficulty of four-part
singing with all-male groups at this age, you may want to sing only two
or three parts. Depending upon which part you like the best, parts 1 or
2 should be assigned to changed-voice tenors and/or light baritones and
sung 8va down, or they may be sung at actual pitch by boy trebles (unchanged
voices). If one of the parts is a familiar melody, be sure to choose it.
Assign part 3 to cambiatas (first phase of voice change) and part 4 to
adolescent baritones (second phase of voice change) and changed voices.
Men's chorus (older
adolescents, high school age): Assign part 1 to second tenors, part
2 to baritones, part 3 to cambiatas and first tenors (who will read the
treble clef at actual pitch and sing falsetto) and part 4 to basses. Part
3 is about the same range and tessitura as the first tenor's part in TTBB
voicing. In a choral setting, it is not advisable to assign part 3 to the
basses to be sung 8va down.
Remember, you may omit any
of the parts and the arrangement will still sound fine.
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