Meadowlark: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0008400
$2.40
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
The haunting hook at the tail end of each flowing refrain lingers long after the conclusion of this nature-inspired charmer. Singers implore the symbolic bird to "bring a message of hope and peace." Easy to learn, with well-crafted minor-key harmonies that surprise with a Picardy third at the end.
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
- Assignment, recording, and assessment tools within MakeMusic Cloud
- Part-predominant and accompaniment tracks
- Printable sheet music (with a standard MakeMusic Cloud subscription)
- Correlated rehearsal guides and performance notes
- Rights to perform in a live or virtual setting
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Meadowlark: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0008400
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck leads choral publications at Alfred Music while maintaining an active career as a composer, arranger, and conductor. His catalog includes over 450 choral works, vocal method books, and children's musicals performed by singers across the globe. He holds degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University and has served as guest conductor for honor choirs and all-state groups throughout the Southeast.
Beyond his publishing role, Beck works as an adjudicator, clinician, and choreographer for music educators and students nationwide. He performs as a tenor with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and has contributed as a studio singer for Alfred Music since 1992. His commitment to choral artistry and music literacy shapes both his compositions and the publications he stewards for the Alfred catalog.
Why we love this
Beck understands what makes two-part writing engaging for developing singers. The refrain hook is memorable enough to stick without becoming simplistic, and the minor-key setting with that final Picardy third gives students a genuine harmonic moment to anticipate and execute. This is the kind of piece that rehearses quickly but sounds intentional and moving.
What to expect
A gentle inquiry set against minor-key minor harmonies that feel both wistful and grounded. The hook at each refrain's end lodges in memory like a bird call returning, and the final shift to major light gives singers a moment of musical reward that feels earned rather than tacked on.
Who it's for
Two-part choirs at the middle school, high school, or beginning adult level will find this piece approachable yet musically substantial. It works well for groups developing minor-key literacy and harmonic awareness without overwhelming singers still building foundational skills.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the refrain's tail hook as a unified gesture across both parts; the lingering effect depends on singers arriving together at that pivotal third.
- Use the part-predominant tracks during rehearsal to establish each line's independence before blending the full voicing.
- Let the text underscore the musical shape: 'bring a message' naturally lifts, while 'hope and peace' can settle into a softer dynamic at the close.
- Highlight the Picardy third moment in dress rehearsal so singers understand why the final chord shifts their expectations.
How to use it
Pair this with other nature-themed or hope-centered repertoire in a concert celebrating songs of peace and renewal. Its eight pages and accessible difficulty make it ideal for mid-year programming when groups need a piece that learns quickly but photographs well in performance.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in minor keys with confidence
- Blend and balance in two-part writing
- Understanding voice leading and harmonic function, especially unexpected tonal shifts
- Sustained singing with text expression across longer phrases
- Memorization through repeated refrains