The Mermaid: TB Choral Octavo
Traditional Sea Ballad / arr. Jack Zaino
Item: 00-PO-0006675
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Description
Clamoring to join the sea song craze? Here's an exceptionally well-prepared traditional sea ballad that is equal parts authentic and enjoyable. Dating back to the mid 1700s, this rollicking nautical adventure (probably from England or Scotland) tells the story of a ship's captain who spots a mermaid in the distance. Since mermaids were thought to bring bad luck, the whole crew panics! A chorus of sailors, a captain, the chef, and a parrot take turns expressing their woe---often in a comedic way. Singers will quickly be hooked, so directors can sink into the educational merits to uncover many hidden treasures. View the arranger's intro video for even more history and teaching ideas.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0006675
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jack Zaino
Jack Zaino brings together deep roots in choral education and contemporary musical sensibility. A New England-based educator, clinician, and choral editor at Alfred Music, he spent years teaching middle school music in Connecticut public schools before transitioning to publishing work. He earned both a B.A. in Voice and a B.S. in Music Education from the University of Connecticut, where he was a founding member of the UConn Chamber Singers, and holds a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the same institution.
Zaino's arrangements reflect his commitment to connecting singers with music that matters. His catalog features thoughtful adaptations of artists spanning pop, country, and contemporary styles, from Kacey Musgraves to Lizzo. In 2020, Connecticut ACDA honored him as Young Choral Director of the Year. He currently serves as composition chair on the Connecticut ACDA repertoire and resources committee and contributes to the programming work of Consonare Choral Community, an organization dedicated to building connection through singing.
Why we love this
Zaino has unearthed a genuinely fun piece that works because it respects the source material while making it accessible and engaging for modern singers. The multiple character voices and comedic moments give choirs a rare chance to explore personality and ensemble acting without veering into novelty territory. This arrangement strikes the balance directors spend years searching for: historically grounded enough to feel authentic, entertaining enough that singers actually want to rehearse it.
What to expect
Rollicking and seafaring, with moments of genuine comic relief that spring from character and story rather than gimmick. The piece has the bounce of a working sailor's song, complete with the superstitions and panic that made maritime life both thrilling and terrifying. Singing it feels like joining a rowdy crew on deck, swapping tall tales about the perils of the sea.
Who it's for
This octavo works for treble-voiced choirs at the middle school level through experienced high school ensembles. Directors seeking material that balances accessibility with genuine musical substance will find the multiple voicing options (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB) accommodate various skill levels and enrollment configurations.
How to get the most out of it
- Build characterization early by assigning singers to specific roles (captain, chef, parrot, crew) during sectionals, even if the full ensemble sings the chorus. This investment pays off when sailors defend against mermaid panic with genuine expression rather than neutral precision.
- Lean into the rhythmic swing and lilt of the traditional melody rather than locking into metronomic precision. The piece breathes better when phrasing honors the sea ballad's storytelling roots.
- Layer the recorded accompaniment during rehearsals to lock ensemble cohesion, then rehearse a cappella periodically to ensure singers own the harmonic framework independent of the track.
- Highlight the comic timing in moments where the crew reacts to mermaid sightings. Singers who understand the humor will deliver more nuanced dynamics and diction.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece that refreshes audiences tired of predictable spring programming, or enter it in competitions where folk and novelty categories welcome authentic arrangements. Its 16-page length and recorded accompaniment option make it equally suited to a standalone concert feature or as the anchoring energy in a program mixing folk traditions with other periods and styles.
Skills your students will build
- Characterization and ensemble acting within a sung narrative
- Reading and performing mixed voicings (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB) flexibly
- Stylistic interpretation of folk melody and maritime ballad idiom
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated passages and call-and-response sections
- Diction clarity in comedic text delivery and storytelling