Dandelion Child: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words by Nanci Milam, music by Penny Rodriguez
Item: 00-PO-0006382
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A sweet and whimsical view of youth, this piece is sure to charm and delight. A gently playful melody twists and turns through a shifting palette of harmonic colors. Expressive unison becomes rich harmony as the enchanting poem blossoms. "Dandelion child, dancing on air, a kiss of life, a laugh to share."
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0006382
More about this title
About the Composer: Penny Rodriguez
Penny Rodriguez began her musical life at age six in Peru, where her family was involved in missionary work. She studied piano performance at Moody/American Conservatory of Music and has since built a substantial catalog of published piano works and choral compositions. Her more recent creative focus has shifted toward art songs that pair solo voice with piano accompaniment, drawing on classical poetry for text.
As both a pianist and recording artist, Rodriguez has released eleven albums to date. She brings a lyricist's sensibility to her compositions, selecting carefully curated texts that resonate with the emotional arc of her music. Based in the Indianapolis area, she counts time with her family, particularly her grandchildren, as a primary source of artistic inspiration.
Why we love this
Rodriguez gifts young singers a melody that naturally sits in the voice while supporting genuine musical development. The harmonic language shifts deliberately throughout, giving singers both the security of unison passages and the rich challenge of two-part texture, which strengthens both independence and blend in a single piece.
What to expect
Delicate and alive. The piece captures the lightness of youth in motion, with a melody that seems to skip and turn just as a child might. Unison sections feel almost whispered and intimate, while moments of harmony bloom unexpectedly, creating small surprises that mirror the poem's gentle wit and tenderness.
Who it's for
Middle school and high school choirs seeking accessible yet artfully written repertoire. Singers new to two-part writing will find the unison passages supportive, while the harmonic shifts offer meaningful challenges. It works especially well for programs that value both charm and musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Encourage singers to feel the "dancing on air" quality in the opening unison section by keeping the tone light and buoyant rather than weighted.
- When the piece moves into two-part harmony, mark where each voice enters in a rehearsal score and isolate those moments so singers build confidence singing against each other.
- Shape the harmonic transitions by having singers listen to the recorded accompaniment during early rehearsals, which clarifies where the harmonic palette shifts.
- Balance the playfulness of the melodic line with care for the poem's imagery; the whimsy serves the text, not the other way around.
How to use it
This piece pairs beautifully in a concert that celebrates poetry or nature themes, and its brevity makes it an ideal transition between longer works. Consider programming it in the second half of your concert where audiences have settled in and can fully appreciate the subtlety of the harmonic palette.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in two-part harmony while maintaining independence
- Responding to harmonic shifts and tonal color changes
- Phrasing lyrics expressively within a gently playful vocal line
- Blending unison tone before dividing into parts
- Interpreting poetic imagery through musical character