ME = Moderately Easy
M = Medium
MD = Moderately Difficult
D = Difficult
Choral Works
Everyday Sorrows, Everyday Joys
SA, piano, woodblock, bongo - SEA-013-01 - $5.50/choral scoreSA, elementary school orchestra - SEA-013-00 - $24.00/orchestral score
15 minutes - ME Commissioned through the Syracuse Society for New Music Composers-in-the-Schools Program
Five songs celebrating the ups and downs of life, written collaboratively with elementary school students. The styles are eclectic, ranging from "serious" to "showtune" to "rap." The songs may be performed separately, or as a complete set.
I. Bubbles, BubblesII. These Are the Colors That I Like To Eat
III. Sick Day
IV. Being Cool
V. A Joyful Day
Technical Details: The vocal parts are in unison or simple two part writing. In the orchestral version, the pianist has the most challenging part, and is best played by an adult or advanced pianist, with the other instrumental parts written for average 4th-6th graders in a public school music program. Range (all parts): a-e"
Everyday Sorrows, Everyday Joys
I. Bubbles, bubbles
based on poems by Angel Myers and Danielle Corapi
Bubbles, bubbles everywhere,
In my bath and in my hair.
I want to stay in for an hour or two.
(I hope they stay out of my eyes.)
Bubbles, bubbles everywhere,
In my house and in the air.
I want to stay in for a day or two.
(I hope they stay out of my mouth.)
Floating in and out, riding up and down,
I hope the bubbles get me clean
While they're dancing all around,
'Cause if they don't I'll wear a frown.
II. The Colors That I Like To Eat
based on poems by Tiera Betsey and Marticia Bennett
These are the colors that I like to eat:
Red is strawberries and apples, too.
Yellow is bananas and french fries, ooooh.
Green is pickles and pears, okay!
Orange is mangos and carrots, hooray!
Purple is raisins and grapes, oh my!
Blue is blueberries and blueberry pie!
Brown is hamburgers, what a treat!
But most of all I love to eat
All different colors of ice cream!
These are the colors that I like to eat!
III. Sick Day
based on a poem by Dina Gianoulis, Alexis O'Connor and Kristyn Fontana
I'm really sick today.
I cannot go to school.
I feel so very strange.
I think I'm burning up.
Hurry, hurry I need a drink.
Can you bring a cough drop too?
Hurry, hurry, I need a tissue.
Mommy, mommy what to do?
I'm so bored. I'm so bored.
I feel very very tired
And I want to just collapse.
IV. Being Cool
based on poems by Tracy Koval and Chris Woelfel
I was trying to be cool
In the hallway after school
A little kid was walkin' by
And I stuck my foot out just to try
I tripped the kid
and he looked as if he might cry.
This is not cool -- you're actin' like a fool.
Don't get in a fight --you know it is not right.
I learned my lesson.
(And I'm not guessin'!)
That being thoughtless and being mean
Won't get me anywhere; it's a real bad scene.
Now I'm being cool the right way 'til the end!
V. A Joyful Day
based on a poem by Cary Blanding
Last week I had a joyful day!
I read a book, I sang a song,
I smelled a flower...
My head was happy.
Last week I had a joyful day!
I threw a ball, I lifted weights,
I climbed a tree...
My arms were tired.
I drank some juice, I ate an apple,
Mmmmm....
Last week I had a joyful day!
I ran a race, I rode my bike,
I helped a friend...
My heart felt good.
Last week I had a joyful day!
I marched uphill, and ran right home,
and soaked in a hot bath...
My body felt great from my head to my toes!
Copyright © 1998 by Elizabeth Alexander
I. Bubbles, bubbles
based on poems by Angel Myers and Danielle Corapi
Bubbles, bubbles everywhere,
In my bath and in my hair.
I want to stay in for an hour or two.
(I hope they stay out of my eyes.)
Bubbles, bubbles everywhere,
In my house and in the air.
I want to stay in for a day or two.
(I hope they stay out of my mouth.)
Floating in and out, riding up and down,
I hope the bubbles get me clean
While they're dancing all around,
'Cause if they don't I'll wear a frown.
II. The Colors That I Like To Eat
based on poems by Tiera Betsey and Marticia Bennett
These are the colors that I like to eat:
Red is strawberries and apples, too.
Yellow is bananas and french fries, ooooh.
Green is pickles and pears, okay!
Orange is mangos and carrots, hooray!
Purple is raisins and grapes, oh my!
Blue is blueberries and blueberry pie!
Brown is hamburgers, what a treat!
But most of all I love to eat
All different colors of ice cream!
These are the colors that I like to eat!
III. Sick Day
based on a poem by Dina Gianoulis, Alexis O'Connor and Kristyn Fontana
I'm really sick today.
I cannot go to school.
I feel so very strange.
I think I'm burning up.
Hurry, hurry I need a drink.
Can you bring a cough drop too?
Hurry, hurry, I need a tissue.
Mommy, mommy what to do?
I'm so bored. I'm so bored.
I feel very very tired
And I want to just collapse.
IV. Being Cool
based on poems by Tracy Koval and Chris Woelfel
I was trying to be cool
In the hallway after school
A little kid was walkin' by
And I stuck my foot out just to try
I tripped the kid
and he looked as if he might cry.
This is not cool -- you're actin' like a fool.
Don't get in a fight --you know it is not right.
I learned my lesson.
(And I'm not guessin'!)
That being thoughtless and being mean
Won't get me anywhere; it's a real bad scene.
Now I'm being cool the right way 'til the end!
V. A Joyful Day
based on a poem by Cary Blanding
Last week I had a joyful day!
I read a book, I sang a song,
I smelled a flower...
My head was happy.
Last week I had a joyful day!
I threw a ball, I lifted weights,
I climbed a tree...
My arms were tired.
I drank some juice, I ate an apple,
Mmmmm....
Last week I had a joyful day!
I ran a race, I rode my bike,
I helped a friend...
My heart felt good.
Last week I had a joyful day!
I marched uphill, and ran right home,
and soaked in a hot bath...
My body felt great from my head to my toes!
Copyright © 1998 by Elizabeth Alexander