An A Cappella Triptych
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Three Latin works -- Kyrie Eleison, Cantate Domino, and Musica Dei -- are tied together by their a cappella nature. Sung individually or all together, they form a satisfying whole. Perfect for contest, festival or performance. A rehearsal scratch track is provided on the accompaniment CD.

America
Ruthie has arranged the "prequel" to her very popular "America the Beautiful" (BL276), skillfully setting "America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee; Thesaurus Musicus, words by Samuel F. Smith) for three-part mixed chorus and optional baritone. Beginning with an optional intro, the song starts a cappella and builds verse by verse to a powerful conclusion. While it is magnificent on its own, an alternate ending that enables a segue into her arrangement of "America the Beautiful" creates a stirring patriotic medley. Suitable for school or church use, wonderful for end-of-year ceremonies or concerts with a patriotic theme. Commissioned by the Midland High School Chorus, Midland, Michigan (Robert Sabourin, director). <

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

Away In a Manger
This rocking, soothing SSA setting of Away in a Manger by Ruth Elaine Schram is easy to learn and multi-functional. Ruthie has provided the option of using the holiday text or that of Robert Burns' well known poem "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" making it an excellent addition to your holiday or festival program. Suitable for school or church use.

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
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William Shakespeare's poetry holds the key to this powerful work, seeking the joy of life, even in the bitter bite of winter's winds. This setting has an expressive, yet somber feel throughout, although it tries to burst the bonds of "man's ingratitude" and "a friend remembered not." An excellent choice of text, message, and interpretive feel. Accompaniment CD is available.

Christmas Is Just Love
Shopping for holiday gifts, preparing Christmas dinner ... everything we do for one another during the holiday season translates into a simple yet profound message: Christmas is just love. Everyone will feel the warmth and sincerity of this Ruth Elaine Schram original when it is performed in your Holiday Concert.

The Erie Canal
Take your singers on a ride on the Erie Canal, one of America's time-honored folk songs! Ruthie Schram's rhythmically interesting arrangement is full of syncopations and will develop excellent diction in young singers. If it suits the needs and abilities of the ensemble, the optional second part provides an opportunity to teach and hear descant-style harmony.

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

Also available for solo male voice in Ruthie's "Traveling On" collection (BLB003).

The Holly and the Ivy
Combined with an additional original melody, Ruthie Schram offers this simply joyful and supremely easy art-song setting of the familiar carol for treble voices. Optional Flute part included in score is the perfect complement to this Partner song.

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

How I Love the Holidays
Ruth Elaine Schram and John Parker have collaborated to create an endearing song about the essence of the holiday season and its special treats. Bouncy and happy, this selection for your Winter Concert is sure to awaken special holiday memories in all who hear and sing it.

Kum Ba Yah (published by BriLee)
View score page 4, page 5
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The beloved campfire song has been artfully arranged for Unison / Optional Two Part voices.  The familiar melody has been given beautiful fresh harmonies that a new generation will cherish.

Kyrie (for ladies' voices)
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The vocal harmonies in this lovely setting of the Greek "Kyrie" create a shimmering effect in this tasteful original for ladies' voices. The modulation heightens the tension, only to be released as the work closes. This sonorous, expressive work will be a welcome addition to your library.

Let Nature Sing
Here is the fifth volume in a series of solo songs for young singers from BriLee Music. It contains a wide variety of songs, from spirituals and folksongs to originally composed works. Selected with the treble voice in mind, songs with narrow ranges of six and seven notes progress to songs that expand the range as the voice develops. The nature of the selections is to challenge the voice, not to tax it; to develop its expressive capabilities, not to overextend them.

Songs by Ruth Elaine Schram include: "The Song that Nature Sings" and "Oh Shenandoah." The book/CD combination includes beautifully recorded demos as well as the accompaniment tracks.

A Little Night Caroling
View score page 6, page 10
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This beautifully and skillfully blended medley of "O Holy Night," "Silent Night," and "All Through the Night" will stir hearts and minds, back to the night when the angels sang and peace was promised to our world. Lush choral harmonies are supported by a lyrical piano accompaniment. Suitable for church (especially meaningful for Christmas Eve) or school use.

A Long Way from Home
Gorgeous pairing of two beloved Spirituals; "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" and "Going Home" (theme from Dvorak's "New World" Symphony). The two combine effortlessly in this lovely, flowing setting. Dreamy, poignant and tasteful, it will touch the hearts of all who hear it. Voiced for Three Part Mixed voices with an optional Baritone part, making it extremely flexible for the developing (or small) choir.

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

Mister Zombie's Jazz Club
Zombies and monsters abound in this novelty piece that offers the opportunity to introduce jazz, swing, and the concept of scat singing to developing singers. Add the optional String Bass and Finger Snaps for a realistic "jazz" feel. Perfect for fall concerts and Halloween, or for any time of year, this piece has a message of cooperation and acceptance packaged with scary fun! Commissioned by the Rock Springs Middle School Chorus in Smyrna, Tennessee; written by Mark Cabaniss and arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram.

MP3 rehearsal aids and Accompaniment Tracks are available as a free download from the publisher.

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
View SATB score page 3, page 4
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Click here to listen (Unison / Two Part)
This well-known spiritual comes to new life in this exquisite arrangement by Ruth Elaine Schram.  The harmonies are sonorous and warm, beautifully supporting the melody.  The syncopation gently propels the work through each phrase, ending softly on "Nobody knows my sorrow."  An aesthetic experience awaits your ensemble in this incredible arrangement.

Petit Enfant
This arrangement of a lovely French carol may be performed in French or English. With canonic-like imitation throughout, this is a sensitive, haunting, beautiful carol, wonderful for seasonal worship. Flexibly voiced for Two-part Mixed / Optional 3-part Mixed voices (Alto part is optional throughout) with piano accompaniment, this is perfect for small church choral programs, youth choirs, or larger church choirs with minimal rehearsal time.

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

Rockwood River
Commissioned by the All-Cleveland County (North Carolina) Middle School Choral Festival. Pure fun abounds in this unison/optional two-part original folk song by Mark Cabaniss, arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram. Your choir will enjoy singing about the folks from Rockwood River, where life is easy and the pace is slow. The optional fiddle and string bass parts, enhanced with intermittent clapping, add a realistic musical depiction of a Huck Finn / Tom Sawyer adventure. Available in two voicings.

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

Shalom Aleichem (May Peace Be With You)
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This is an easy partner song by Linda Marcus and Ruth Elaine Schram, based on a Hebrew phrase with a very positive message for your singers. The words and melody are easy to remember and work as a canon, providing opportunities to teach about rounds and repeats.

Sing Joy to the World
The beloved carol by G. F. Handel, set for three part treble voices, is creatively and attractively paired with "Spring" from "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi in the accompaniment, resulting in a delightful turn of two classics that everyone is guaranteed to enjoy. Equally appropriate for school or church.

Free MP3 part-by-part rehearsal aids and accompaniments are available from the publisher.

Song of the Open Road
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Based on poetry from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, this optimistic work proclaims the freedom we have to choose our own path in life. An excellent way to teach expressive, interpretive singing as you expose your students to an important work of American literature with a positive outlook on the adventure of life; perfect for Spring or Graduation ceremonies.

Velvet Shoes
View score page 5, page 6
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Based on the exquisite poem by Elinor Wylie, this work exudes quietness, softness, and a sense of tranquil peace and soundless space. The beautiful melody allows for lots of emotional interpretation, assuring your young choir and its audience of an aesthetic experience.