Mayim, Mayim: Choral Instrumental Pak
As performed by Robert DeCormier
Item: 35-PK00029725
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Description
Recorded on Counterpoint's latest album, "Shalom," this arrangement of the Israeli folksong is exuberant and quite moving. Performance Time: Approx. 2:35.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00029725
More about this title
About the Artist: Robert DeCormier
Robert DeCormier's career spans nearly seven decades of conducting, arranging, and championing vocal music across multiple genres. After studying at Juilliard, he built a reputation as a versatile musician, serving as music director of the New York Choral Society for seventeen years, collaborating with Harry Belafonte as conductor and arranger, and guiding Peter, Paul and Mary from 1978 to 2010. He also taught conducting and ensembles at the Eastman School of Music and later founded Counterpoint, a professional vocal ensemble based in Vermont that recorded six albums and conducted educational residencies across New England.
DeCormier's contributions to choral music extend far beyond performance. He arranged extensively across traditions, from African-American spirituals to folk songs from around the world, and composed works ranging from Broadway scores to choral pieces. His work has earned recognition including the Vermont Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Choral Arts Foundation.
Why we love this
DeCormier captures the infectious joy of this Israeli folksong without sacrificing musical depth. The arrangement balances accessibility with authentic feeling, making it genuinely moving rather than merely cheerful. This is exactly the kind of world music selection that leaves audiences energized and singers fulfilled.
What to expect
Mayim, Mayim pulses with celebration and communal joy. The arrangement honors the folksong's roots while bringing it to life with contemporary harmonic color, creating a performance that feels both timeless and urgent.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking accessible yet sophisticated world music repertoire will find this arrangement immediately rewarding. It works equally well for community choruses, high school choirs, and concert ensembles that want to program something with genuine cultural substance and audience appeal.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the rhythm drive the piece forward. The exuberance comes from rhythmic precision and energy in the ensemble, not from rushing the tempo.
- Balance the chorus parts so the melody remains clear through the texture. In a "Special" voicing, that clarity becomes the foundation for everything else.
- Use the recorded version as a listening reference, not a rhythmic crutch. Singers should internalize the style before relying on accompaniment.
How to use it
This pairs naturally with other international folk selections or Israeli music, making it ideal for cultural heritage concerts or global music themes. At under three minutes, it also serves as an excellent opener or closer that leaves the audience smiling and engaged.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in a non-Western folk idiom with authentic phrasing
- Rhythmic precision in an energetic ensemble context
- Balancing multiple vocal lines to maintain melodic clarity
- Cultural and historical awareness of Israeli folk traditions