The Shepherd and the Cat: 2-Part Choral Octavo
French Canadian Folk Song / arr. Earlene Rentz and Suzanne Rita Byrnes
Item: 00-PO-0007796
$2.40
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This playful French Canadian song follows a little shepherd's attempts to protect her fresh crock of cheese from a clever cat. The arrangement is primarily in English, with a simple, recurring French phrase. Well-crafted 2-part writing features sturdy unison lines and simple counterlines, making it highly accessible for developing choirs. A lilting piano part provides support and mimics the jaunty steps of the characters. Complete with a surprise ending and a "purr-fect" punchline, it's sure to leave a smile on every face.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0007796
More about this title
About the Arranger: Earlene Rentz
Earlene Rentz has shaped choral music education across multiple levels and regions throughout her career. She spent seven years teaching choral music in public schools, working with elementary, junior high, and high school students, then moved into higher education where she taught choral music pedagogy courses for twelve years. Her experience conducting All-State Choirs in Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and Alabama deepened her understanding of what works across diverse ensembles and communities.
As a prolific composer and arranger, Rentz has published more than 700 choral works with 17 different publishers, establishing herself as a trusted voice in accessible, engaging choral literature. She currently resides in North Carolina and continues writing music that speaks directly to the needs of developing choirs.
Why we love this
Rentz and Byrnes have crafted an arrangement that balances genuine musical content with genuine fun. The 2-part writing gives young singers real harmonic material to engage with, while the narrative charm and comedic payoff keep the whole rehearsal room invested. Programming this signals to your students that learning music and enjoying music live in the same space.
What to expect
Spirited and lighthearted, with the rhythmic energy of a folk tale told in song. The French-English blend gives the piece a continental flavor, while the narrative tension between shepherd and cat creates real drama within a playful frame. The ending delivers genuine delight.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves developing 2-part choirs with solid fundamentals who are ready for pieces with genuine musical substance and storytelling. It works equally well for upper elementary and middle school ensembles, or for high school choirs seeking concert material that audiences genuinely enjoy without sacrificing musical value.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the unison sections with clear dynamic contour so the melody feels like a character with personality; the shepherd's determination and the cat's scheming both deserve expressive commitment.
- Let the piano part inform your phrasing. The 'jaunty steps' mentioned in the score are real musical gestures that should guide the choir's rhythmic shape and energy.
- Coordinate the surprise ending carefully in rehearsal; the joke only lands if the timing and ensemble unity are tight enough to catch your audience off guard.
How to use it
Pair this with other world music or folk-based pieces to build a thematic concert around cultural stories and traditions. It also works beautifully as a lighter palate cleanser in a program that includes more serious repertoire, or as the centerpiece of a family concert where you want to showcase your singers' musicality alongside their personality.
Skills your students will build
- Singing independent lines in 2-part texture with clarity and balance
- Sustaining musical character and storytelling through word painting
- Reading and performing simple counterpoint
- Coordinating entrances and phrase endings with ensemble awareness
- Responding to piano accompaniment for rhythmic and harmonic grounding