Novello New Choral Series-Craig McLeish writes of The Negro Speaks of Rivers; Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was the first black American to earn his living from writing. He was an innovator of jazz poetry becoming part of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote plays short stories novels and his poetry was widely read. He was also a journalist columnist and lecturer. The Negro Speaks of Rivers was perhaps his earliest published work written when only 17 and while travelling by train to Mexico to visit his father. As the train crossed the Mississippi he suddenly began thinking about how rivers had impacted on Negro history particularly in the fight against slavery.The four rivers mentioned in the poem lent themselves to using musical influences from those particular regions. However I have tried to keep these links fairly tenuous to avoid overt pastiche. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to work with Congolese musicians. These sessions led to the intricate rhythms in The Congo. The Mississippi mentions New Orleans so a jazz fugue seemed the most appropriate compositional device to weave into the texture. The spirit of The Nile was gauged from many hours listening avidly to Egyptian music.Craig McLeish began his musical life as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral. As a bass guitarist conductor musical arranger and composer he has worked with a wide variety of groups in several genres and scored a hit with the cult pop band ‘Fat & Frantic’. He is musical director of Young Voices UK and conducts several youth and community choirs in and around Milton Keynes. Listen to an excerpt from Craig McLeish's The Negro Speaks Of Rivers:  

Eugene Rogers Choral Series-Combining two traditional spirituals Come and go with me and Come and go with me to my Father's House Brandon Waddles has created an arrangement that harkens the sounds of an African-American work song and Southern male gospel quartet. Brandon uses the a cappella style of the spiritual the extended harmonies of jazz and the motivic and rhythmic drive of gospel in this arrangement to make the pairing of these two selections a joyous community expression.

In this clever arrangement Mark Miller blends the African-American spiritual Rise Up Shepherd and Follow with O Come All Ye Faithful to make a perfect blend for use with your adult children's or youth choirs.

Medley in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.-This moving work was commissioned by the Choral Arts Society of Washington in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was described by The Washington Post as a speaker's narration of the slain African American leader's accomplishments with a galvanizing chorus of pungent syncopations and emotional turbulence - of both the composer's own invention and assimilated spirituals.

Stand By Me has enjoyed unceasing popularity ever since its original release by Ben E. King in 1961. This three-part choral arrangement by Mark De-Lisser was sung by ACM Gospel Choir on the BBC's 2008 series Last Choir Standing and gives the song a contemporary soulful feel and won them fourth place in the competition. Arrangement for SAT choir with Piano accompaniment. As sung at the wedding of Meghan Markle to Prince Harry in May 2018.

This is an enormously popular arrangement set in an uptempo gospel style. You'll raise the roof with this one! Available: SATB 3-Part Mixed. Performance Time: Approx. 3:25.

Description The Ultimate Gospel Choir Book - Volume 5 features 17 great gospel songs for mixed voices (SAB/SATB), soloist and Piano. Arranged by Jeff Guillen. Songlist Blessing (Go With Peace) Come, O Come, Our Voices Raise Free At Last Gospel Medley Higher Ground It Is Well It's Alright I've Got A Feeling Jesus Loves Me Milky White Way Morning Praise Pilot Me Proem (Grace and Peace) Ride On King Jesus Sometimes I Feel Study War No More Sweet By And By

Singers will cherish these powerful solo arrangements by Mark Hayes, Jay Althouse, Philip Kern, Greg Gilpin, and other fine Alfred arrangers. Including favorite traditional spirituals like Deep River, Sit Down Servant, Witness, and Down in the Valley to Pray, this inspirational collection is essential to every solo singer's library. Fresh contemporary arrangements that sing and play well, available in medium high and medium low editions, with or without the accompaniment CD.

Singers will cherish these powerful solo arrangements by Mark Hayes, Jay Althouse, Philip Kern, Greg Gilpin, and other fine Alfred arrangers. Including favorite traditional spirituals like Deep River, Sit Down Servant, Witness, and Down in the Valley to Pray, this inspirational collection is essential to every solo singer's library. Fresh contemporary arrangements that sing and play well, available in medium high and medium low editions, with or without the accompaniment CD.

A collection of 20 inspiring African-American spirituals, arranged for easy piano by Phillip Keveren. Suitable for pianists grades 2-4. Includes lyrics and guitar chord symbols.