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Play Your Harps, Children of Zion

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Composer
Carol McClure
Difficulty
Moderate radio_button_checked radio_button_checked radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked
Description

  • Text Source: Shaker, South Union and Pleasant Hill
  • Tune Source: Shaker
  • Worship Use: General /Praise/Choir Dedication
  • Vocal Part(s):  Unison, with opt. 2nd part (descant)                    
  • Vocal Range: Pt. I, d-g’; Pt. II (descant), d-e’
  • Key: D minor > A major                               
  • Meter: 6/8
  • Accompanying Instrument(s): Piano (or harp)

Target Age Group: Grades 3-6

Description: Play Your Harps, Children of Zion is a majestic, modal anthem in a slow 6/8, ideal for an inspiring moment in worship or a concert. This anthem provides an opportunity to work on long lines with constan melodic motion.

Anthem Warm-Ups

  • bars 9-12: singing ascending natural minor scale and descending thirds and seconds on “loo” for pitch awareness
  • random phrases: staccato singing of parts for pitch accuracy

Teaching Points

  • Rhythm/Meter: Sustaining a dance-like momentum in slow 6/8 time
  • Vocal Production: Sustaining a lovely unified tone
  • Musical Understanding: Performing 4-bar melodic/rhythmic phrases; singing long lines; shaping phrases; dynamics
  • Intervallic Tuning: Tuning harmonic intervals between the two parts
  • Music History: Learning about early Shaker tunes and texts
  • Music History/Style Exploration: Discussing imagery in Shaker texts
Voicing(s)
2-part Children's Choir Unison
Instruments
Harp Keyboard [organ/piano]
Lyrics & More
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