Rounds of Israel: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: Rounds of Israel: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-LG51542
Price: 2.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. Robert DeCormier

Item: 00-LG51542

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Lawson-Gould Music Publishers

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 783556006879

SKU: 00-LG51542

More about this title

About the Arranger: Robert DeCormier

Robert DeCormier studied at Juilliard School and spent decades establishing himself as one of America's most versatile choral musicians. His career encompassed conducting the New York Choral Society for seventeen years, serving as music director for Peter, Paul and Mary from 1978 to 2010, and arranging for Harry Belafonte and numerous other artists. He taught conducting and ensembles at the Eastman School of Music and founded Counterpoint, a professional vocal ensemble based in Vermont that commissioned and recorded his arrangements across multiple genres.

DeCormier's gift for arrangement spanned African-American spirituals, folk traditions from around the world, and contemporary works. He received the Vermont Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2002 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Choral Arts Foundation in 2006, recognizing his profound influence on American choral music and his commitment to making diverse repertoire accessible to singers of all levels.

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Why we love this

DeCormier's arrangements of Israeli folk material capture the energy and accessibility that made his work with Peter, Paul and Mary so enduring. The SATB voicing sits comfortably for mixed ensembles of varying abilities, while his harmonic writing brings out the distinctive character of each round without obscuring its folk roots. Programming these pieces builds cultural awareness and offers your singers repertoire they'll want to perform again and again.

What to expect

The pieces pulse with the warmth and communal spirit of Israeli folk music, blending accessible melodies with DeCormier's skillful harmonic support. There's an infectious quality to rounds that encourages ensemble cohesion and joyful singing.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced high school and collegiate choirs seeking repertoire that deepens singers' connection to world folk traditions. Directors building programs that celebrate diverse cultural heritages will find these arrangements both musically satisfying and pedagogically sound.

How to get the most out of it

Let the rhythmic vitality of the rounds drive the ensemble forward; these pieces resist dragging and demand crisp articulation and clean releases.
Balance the parts carefully so that the layered melodies stay distinct when singers enter in succession, especially if your sopranos and altos are closely matched in ability.
Consider the performance order of rounds within rehearsals and concerts; DeCormier's arrangements vary in mood and energy, so sequence them strategically to maintain audience engagement.

How to use it

These rounds work beautifully in spring or end-of-year concerts celebrating world cultures, or alongside other folk-inspired repertoire that showcases musical traditions beyond the Western classical canon. The 16-page octavo offers enough variety to frame a substantial program segment or to supplement a thematic concert around Jewish heritage and secular Israeli tradition.