[Choral Piece] Difficult but cool! A work that overwhelms its listeners

refrainsakushi: Kaku Wakako / sakkyoku: Nobunaga Taketomi

Refrain (Mixed Chorus Collection “Isobars”)

Refrain is a work that vividly portrays the feelings of adolescents.

The album is subtitled for children’s chorus and piano, and its defining feature is a style that fully showcases the unique beauty of children’s voices.

While the piece has a melody that feels like an orthodox ballad, its dynamics are quite dramatic, making the support from the men in the low register extremely important.

Although the sopranos and altos stand out, the bass part is surprisingly challenging, so be sure to listen with that in mind.

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Ryo

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with yousmilesakushi: mizumoto makoto emi / sakkyoku: mizumoto makoto

Miyazaki Nichidai Junior High, 2nd Year Class 1 Chorus “with you smile” 2021.10

I imagine many of the people reading this article are middle and high school students who belong to choir clubs.

The piece I’d like to recommend is “with yousmile.” As a choral work for middle and high schoolers, it could be considered fairly well-known.

While the dissonances themselves aren’t intense, it brings out the appeal of both the male and female parts, resulting in outstanding power.

It’s a piece where the accompaniment, rather than the vocals, is more challenging, so it’s definitely one that the accompanists should check out.

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BeginningSakushi: Kudō Naoko / Sakkyoku: Kinoshita Makiko

"The Beginning" (from the mixed chorus collection "With Light and Wind"), poem by Naoko Kudo, music by Makiko Kinoshita, performed by Shinshu University Mixed Chorus

A “Beginning” that lets you feel the grandeur of the Earth.

On Earth, humans and animals go about their lives each day, thinking and feeling in countless ways, yet the Earth simply keeps turning—this piece portrays that universal scene.

It may take a little time to get used to the feel of 6/8 time, but first and foremost it’s important to firmly sense the rhythm.

Focus not only on the meter but also on phrasing and dynamics.

While drawing from the lyrics to sense the Earth’s vastness, the many human dramas, and the lives of creatures, try singing with rich expressiveness.

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SAKI

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Peace on EarthSakushi: Tsurumi Masao / Sakkyoku: Ogikubo Kazuaki

IN TERRA PAX Peace on Earth (from the mixed chorus suite “IN TERRA PAX Peace on Earth”)

A piece distinguished by its grand worldview, with lyrics by Masao Tsurumi and music by Kazuaki Ogikubo.

Centered on the theme of a wish for peace, it brims with expressive variety—from sections as powerful as a fanfare to fresh, vivid passages.

Released in 1990, the work has been beloved by a wide range of choirs, from elementary school groups to adult ensembles, and in the 1990s it secured a firm place as a staple free-choice piece in competitions.

Though technically demanding—with tempo changes, complex rhythms, and a wide vocal range—the sense of accomplishment after performing it is exceptional.

It is a work of deep meaning that also prompts reflection on peace.

Song of Fresh Green LeavesSakushi: Komori Kōko / Sakkyoku: Kumagai Ken’ichi

[Choral Song] Song of Green Leaves / Three-Part Mixed Chorus [With Lyrics]

The choral piece “Aoba no Uta,” notable for its soprano part, was released in 1974.

Though known as a challenging work for three-part mixed chorus, it is also unusual in that its lyrics, accompaniment, and alto line have sometimes been altered to reduce difficulty.

Singers often struggle with the high range and the leaping shifts in tone color.

A good approach is to focus on shaping phrases and making the soprano line sound clear.

The male parts should also be sung so they resonate deeply and solidly.

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utatane

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See?Sakushi: Itou Keiji/Sakki: Matsushita Kou

Kō Matsushita Conducting: “See?” (Shinshu University Mixed Chorus)

Woven from the poetry of Keiji Ito and the music of Ko Matsushita, this work was created for the “Utaou NIPPON Project,” which supports victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The lyrics, which gently sing of the bond between nature and humanity and the small joys of everyday life, warmly envelop the listener’s heart.

Commissioned by Kawai Publishing in 2011, the piece is scored for SATB mixed choir and piano, with a range that is not too wide and a piano part designed to be easy to play.

It is frequently performed in a variety of settings, such as school choir competitions and charity concerts in support of disaster-affected areas.

By joining voices together, singers can feel the connections between people—making this a heartwarming piece.

determinationSakushi: Kataoka Akira / Sakkyoku: Suzuki Norio

[Choral Piece] Determination / With Lyrics [58/200]

This song, a message piece based on Ryotaro Shiba’s essay “To You Who Will Live in the Twenty-First Century,” is a four-part mixed chorus published as the fourth movement of the choral suite “Resolve for the Future.” From the very beginning—starting a cappella—you can already sense its high level of difficulty.

For a junior high school chorus, four-part mixed chorus is a demanding format.

Because the piece has a medium tempo, practice with the goal of aligning all four parts steadily, and sing with an awareness of creating beautiful harmony.

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utatane

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