Songs for Choirs
My songs have travelled far and wide, and are being shared in the true oral tradition, by ear, around campfires and at community and life events, and I love this! I believe in the power of song. I believe it is everyone's birthright, and I love that people enjoy singing and sharing my songs. And I am trying to find the balance between wanting people to sing my songs freely, and being valued for my gifts (and being able to pay my bills). So, if you have taught my songs, please consider supporting my song-writing by buying them, even if you already know them.....
If you can't afford to pay me anything, I would still love you to keep singing my songs! Maybe get in touch to let me know where my songs have travelled to in the world, and what they mean to you.
I have a growing catalogue of songs, 11 of which can no be found in my first songbook! But I will continue to add the scores (and audio files) to new songs here to be purchased for £10 each.
Fire In My Heart
An anthemic song for peace, in 4 interlocking parts. A favourite for many choirs. It is an easy learn song, with an upbeat, forward moving feeling. SATB
May There Be Peace
A simple soothing, chant like song in 3 parts. This song was inspired by the Buddhist "Metta Meditation", also known as the “loving kindness meditation”.
There are many variations of this, but a simplified version is:
May I (you/we/all) be happy
May I (you/we/all) be peaceful
May I (you/we/all) be well
The meditation starts with sending these well wishes to yourself, then out in a widening circle, which can include loved ones, strangers, people with whom you have difficulty, and eventually all living beings, and the planet. I have always felt moved by the simple and deep truth that this meditation points to - to love another, we must start with ourselves; to change the world, we must start with ourselves.
TEACHING NOTES
Quite a few of the words of this song can easily be changed. You can ask the group to find some verse ideas that they would like to include. For example: May there be love in my heart, may there be joy, etc. Or may there be peace in your heart, may there be peace in the world.
Joy's Christmas Round
Written by Joy Juckes (my mum), this uplifting, and jaunty Christmas round is sure to become a seasonal favourite.
Love Is Love!
An upbeat and inclusive LGBT+ anthem in 4 parts with numerous verses inspired by historical and iconic quotes.
Love is love, gay is like glitter, hope is never silent, and have courage my brother/sister/sibling...
Score and mp3 of all the parts included.
This Is A Wave, I Am The Ocean
Beautiful, peaceful song in 4 parts for supporting us through turbulent times.
This song is inspired by the embodied presence work called "Movement of Being", and by the profound, life changing words and teachings of my teachers Colin Harrison and Fanny Behrens. “You are not a boat being tossed about on the waves. And you are not the waves crashing against the rocks. You are the vast ocean - that all the waves arise in, that holds the boat, that just is... ”
Although this songs has 2 sections it also works for a short or one-off workshop, just teaching the Melody, Low Harmony, and the Middle Harmony and only Section A. If it's going well I will add in the High Harmony.
If I have taught Section B, I will sing each section twice through and cycle between them.
Earth's Child
To end, it can feel really powerful to take the parts out in the the same order they came in, and have them join the tenor in singing their part until everyone is in unison on the tenor part for one last round. “Stand up!”
