Father Sky: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words from "Summer Rain" by Tankasila, adapted by Herb Frombach, music by Earlene Rentz
Item: 00-PO-0000917
$1.80
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A beautiful Native American poem gives gratitude for summer rain. A haunting melody emphasizes a minor mode. Optional rhythm instruments heighten the multicultural appeal. A truly artistic experience for developing choirs.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0000917
Instrumentation:
Opt. Rhythm Instruments
More about this title
About the Composer: Earlene Rentz
Earlene Rentz has spent her career building choral programs and expanding the repertoire available to them. She taught choral music across all grade levels in public schools for seven years, then moved into higher education where she spent twelve years teaching choral music education courses. Her conducting experience includes leading All-State Choirs in Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and Alabama.
Rentz's prolific output reflects her deep understanding of what choirs at every level need. She has published over 700 choral compositions with 17 different publishers, establishing herself as a trusted voice in choral composition.
Why we love this
Rentz chooses a Native American text about gratitude and summer rain, then sets it in a minor mode that feels neither dark nor sentimental but genuinely meditative. The optional rhythm instruments invite your choir to deepen their engagement with the cultural context and add texture without overwhelming young singers.
What to expect
The minor mode creates an atmosphere of quiet reverence, as though the rain itself is a gift being offered and received. The melody carries weight without heaviness, moving through intervals that feel natural to the voice even as they avoid predictable patterns. There is space in this piece for breath and reflection.
Who it's for
This works for developing choirs ready to engage with repertoire beyond major-key folk song arrangements. Your singers should have basic two-part independence and comfort with reading unison or simple part-writing. The optional percussion adds appeal for middle school and early high school choirs looking to broaden their multicultural programming.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the two parts so neither dominates; the haunting quality depends on both voices supporting each other equally
- If you use the rhythm instruments, establish their exact parts well before the final rehearsals so singers stay focused on their own lines
- Let the minor mode breathe by resisting the urge to rush tempos; younger choirs often feel uncomfortable in minor and speed up unconsciously
- Connect the text to its cultural roots during rehearsal so singers understand they are honoring a specific tradition, not just singing an exotic melody
How to use it
Program this alongside other selections that explore gratitude, environmental themes, or Indigenous voices in music. It pairs well in a concert that emphasizes cultural awareness and diverse compositional voices. The accessible two-part voicing and 8-page length make it ideal for spring concerts or assemblies celebrating seasonal change.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in minor mode
- Two-part independence and balance
- Cultural awareness in music making
- Rhythmic precision when optional percussion is added
- Interpretive singing beyond technical accuracy