What are we singing on tour?
The Rockford High School Touring Choir heads on the road to Spain next week, with performances in Barcelona, Montserrat, Valencia, Toledo, and Madrid.
In preparation for the tour, 43 students have been rehearsing roughly monthly since August, preparing an hour of a cappella repertoire. Here’s what they’ll be singing. (Full program PDF below.) It includes music from across the choral spectrum, and includes five pieces commissioned and/or premiered by the Rockford Choirs, including one World Premiere on the tour – written for us in 2020 by Alice Parker and getting its belated premiere on this tour. We’ve included much American music, because that’s always received well on our international tours, but also pieces from Spain, since that’s where we’re traveling.
Rockford Touring Choir (SATB voices)
Ave Maria – Attributed to Tomás Luis de Victoria
Battle of Jericho – Trad. Spiritual, Arr. Moses Hogan
Daemon Irrrepit Callidus – Gyorgy Orbán
Earth Song – Frank Ticheli
*‡Ev’ry Night When the Sun Goes In – Trad. Appalachian Blues, Arr. Alice Parker
The Lord Bless You And Keep You – Peter Lutkin
Love is Love – Abbie Betinis
Oy es día de placer – Tomas Pascual, Arr. Jody Noblett
*Towards A Brighter Future – Nelson Mandela, Jed Scott
Unclouded Day – Josiah K. Alwood, Arr. Shawn Kirchner
EuroAces (tenor-bass voices)
*I Can’ Tarry – Spiritual, Arr. Stacey V. Gibbs
*Psalm of Life Canon – Jed Scott
Some Nights – fun., Arr. Andy Beck
*Stand By Me – Arr. Jed Scott
EuroTrebles (soprano-alto voices)
Be Like the Bird – Abbie Betinis
Lift Thine Eyes – Felix Mendelssohn
Mother I Feel You – Windsong
truth – Andrea Ramsey
* commissioned and/or premiered by The Rockford Choirs
‡ world premiere on this tour
Click here for the full program PDF. You can follow along on the tour on Facebook and Instagram