Tag: choir

Why I’m Here

by Ben Clapton, posted in Arrangements

Discover the soul-stirring arrangement of “Why I’m Here” from the acclaimed film Shirley, expertly crafted for unison choir and piano accompaniment by the talented composer Ben Clapton. Drawing inspiration from the heartfelt rendition by PJ Morton and Samara Joy, this arrangement captures the essence of the original piece with emotive depth and resonant beauty.

Bring the cinematic magic of Shirley to life in your choir’s repertoire with this meticulously arranged score, designed to evoke powerful emotions and create unforgettable performances. With its lush harmonies and poignant melodies, “Why I’m Here” offers a captivating musical experience that will leave a lasting impression on performers and audiences alike.

Purchase your copy of the sheet music today and unlock the transformative potential of this exquisite arrangement. Elevate your choir’s performance repertoire with a piece that is both artistically enriching and deeply moving. Experience the joy of making music with “Why I’m Here” and let its evocative melodies inspire your choir to new heights of musical expression.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to add a touch of cinematic splendor to your choir’s repertoire. Order your copy of “Why I’m Here” now and embark on a musical journey filled with emotion, beauty, and unforgettable moments.

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Shchedryk – SATB Choir + Orchestra

by Ben Clapton, posted in Arrangements, Videos

Discover the enchanting rendition of the Ukrainian folk song ‘Shchedryk’ by Ben Clapton, now available for SATB Choir and orchestra at Joyful Noise Music Studio. With a beautifully crafted orchestral introduction, this arrangement brings a fresh perspective to this beloved classic.

Originally performed by the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Perth, alongside the Echoes of Ukraine choir, this adaptation retains the authenticity of the original Cyrillic lyrics while offering a convenient transliteration for ease of singing. Dive into the heartfelt harmonies and cultural resonance of ‘Shchedryk,’ a timeless piece that beautifully merges tradition with innovation.

Ideal for choral groups seeking a unique addition to their repertoire or orchestras aiming to evoke emotions through music, this arrangement invites performers to explore the beauty and depth of Ukrainian folk melodies. Experience the charm of ‘Shchedryk’ through Ben Clapton’s skillful arrangement—a musical journey that honours tradition while embracing contemporary expression.”

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Performance

Shchedryk will be performed on February 25, 2024 at the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra’s 2024 Young Artists Gala at Government House Ballroom, Perth, with MetSO and the Echoes of Ukraine choir. For more information and tickets, visit the MetSO website.

Head & Heart – Joel Corry ft. MNEK

by Ben Clapton, posted in Arrangements, Videos

British DJ and producer Joel Corry produced an awesome hit with “Head and Heart”. Reaching number 1 in the UK, it was both Corry and vocalist MNEK’s first chart topper.

With such a catchy vocal hook, I thought this would work really well as a choral arrangement. However, some of the vocal flourishes went a bit high in the original key, so I included an alternate arrangement in C minor as opposed to F minor. The lower key necessitated some changes in the vocal lines, but it has meant a reduced vocal range that lends itself to school choirs.

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Ding Dong!

by Ben Clapton, posted in Arrangements

An exciting arrangement of “Ding Dong Merrily on High” that will challenge the choir whilst still providing interest and variety for all parts.

Arranged for SATB Choir (without accompaniment), this arrangement sees each part take the melody at some stage.

The verse is initially arranged in 5/4, which has a sort of Mission:Impossible, uneven waltz feel to it. Then in the chorus, it changes to 7/8 which brings the waltz feel into the other direction. The piece closes with a standard arrangement of the verse and chorus in 4/4, which utilises rich harmonies and intersecting parts that brings to life the “evetime song” that exclaims “Hosanna in Excelsis!” .

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Guy Sebastian standing infront of a microphone singing with his arms outstreatched. He is wearing a black singlet and a grey singlet, with a black leather sleeveless jacket that is unzipped.

Choir – Guy Sebastian

by Ben Clapton, posted in Arrangements

“Choir” is a song made by Australian recording artist called Guy Sebastian. The song was released on 31 May 2019 as the second single from Sebastian’s forthcoming ninth studio album. The song is dedicated to his great friend and musical collaborator Luke Liang, who died following a battle with mental health. Sebastian said “[His death] was very unexpected. In fact, I’d actually done a gig with Luke, who passed away, just before I left for LA. And I could sense that something wasn’t quite right… It was very hard to process and it still is.” The song was originally a ballad but Sebastian changed it into “an upbeat, poignant song about the choir of voices Liang has joined in death, and the choir of voices “keeping his light alive” on earth.”

This is an arrangement for SATB Choir with piano accompaniment. All parts have opportunity to shine with the melody, while use of harmonies accentuate the performance. There are about 3 bars of A capella singing, which can be accented with hand claps, and the piece finishes with some off-beat accentuations from the Soprano, Alto and Bass parts. All the semiquavers are swung to give the piece a jazzy, RnB feel.
Ranges: Soprano (F4-A5), Alto (C4-D5), Tenor (C3-C5), Bass (F2-D4).

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Let the weak say, I am Strong

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, Life

I went to Church yesterday, and halfway through, Liesl comes up to me and says “I think they’re doing your song for the songsters message.” Indeed they were, the Songsters message was my arrangement of “Let the weak say, I am strong” by Rueben Morgan. Thanks to not being able to sing (would be too tough for me to get up there with my knee) I instead headed up to the sound desk at the back to record it on my phone.

This wasn’t exactly a complete performance, as there is actually a violin part at the beginning. However, I did write it so that if a corps didn’t have a violin player (which, to be honest, there would be more corps without any musicians than corps who have a violin player), it could still be performed and have the same effect.

I’m really pleased with this arrangement. I think that within it all, every part has beautiful lines that are just a pleasure to sing. Of course, the sopranos have most of the melody. But the lines that I’ve written, particularly the Tenor and Basses are just beautiful. It’s a bit hard to hear in the recording, but the Basses have this great line in the chorus which provides a fantastic grounding to the chorus, while the Tenors get this lovely moving part. I’m also really impressed by the dynamic change in the final couple of lines, which I think provides a real lift to that final line, “Jesus died, and rose again.”

Hope you enjoyed it, and I’ll hope to get a few more out soon.