song arrangements, recordings and the world music repertoire
The songs that Chris teaches are drawn from harmony singing traditions
around the world. He draws on a huge and varied
world music repertoire from a wide range of cultures, as well as
arrangements of popular English language songs.
All songs are sung
unaccompanied, in three or four part harmony, and usually in the language
of the country of origin.
Chris also harmonises and arranges songs especially for workshops and choirs as well as writing his own material. Some of these songs are available to buy as sheet music or as parts CDs.
Many of the songs that Chris teaches have been recorded by some of the choirs that he has been involved with. You can buy choir CDs or order a selection of songs of your choice.
world music repertoire
The term world music is rather vague, but has come to mean the traditional (or folk or roots) music that is sung and played by indigenous people of a particular culture. Most of the songs in Chris's repertoire come from these traditions.
AFRICA (SOUTH)
Abasundu nabamhlope
Akanamandla
Amazing grace (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
Asikhatali
Aweh (Somagwaza)
Babethandaza
Bayavuya
Bwana Tuhurume
Diya duma
Freedom is Coming
Hamba Natil
Jikela emaweni hamba
Koloi ya Elija
Ladum iZulu
Lashong ilang
Mabawuyeke
Maria
Mbube
Ndinani Na
Ndine siphonono
Nkosi Sikelele Afrika
Noyana
Puleng We
Rain!
Senzenina
Shosholoza
Siyahamba
Skhanda Mayeza
Soyilwela
Thanda ummelwane
Tula
AFRICA (OTHER)
Alunde (E. Africa)
Aluta continua (Angola)
Aye makomo (Zimbabwe)
Banaha (Congo)
Banuwa (Liberia)
Farewell my friend (Sierra Leone)
Halima pakashalo (Namibia)
He sengo weh (Congo)
Imaweni (Malawi)
Imela (Nigeria)
Kwaheri (Kenya)
Salaleo (Gambia)
Vamudara (Zimbabwe)
Wai bamba (Zimbabwe)
Zu arende (Zimbabwe)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
And a mountain
Bells of Norwich
Challo Brown
Coalblack smith
Hail smiling morn
Harvest Home
Here's a health to all good lasses
Huweya (Sammy Hurden)
I wanna sing (Dee Jarlett)
Lowlands away
Now the sun is rising up (Sammy Hurden)
O Lord give us freedom
Of all the brave birds
Searching for lambs
Sumer is icumen in
Thousands or more
Unison in harmony
EASTERN EUROPE
Agios o Theos (Russia)
Crven fesic (Bosnia)
Dovidzenya (Poland)
Gospodi (Russia)
Hamisha asar (Bosnia)
Ja Helo (Czech)
Kak po logu (Ukraine)
Kalinka (Russia)
Maliarka (Russia)
Maramica na Stazi (Croatia)
More sokol pie (Bulgaria)
Nyne sily nebenyia (Russia)
O Kolo (Czech)
Oj Dobricu (Croatia)
Oj Savice (Croatia)
Opšaj Diri (Croatia)
Oro se vie (Macedonia)
Ovdovjala lisickata (Bulgaria)
Plovi Barko (Croatia)
Polegala (Croatia)
Polegnala e Tudora (Bulgaria)
Stolat (Poland)
Štomi e Milo (Bulgaria)
Štomi e Milo (Macedonia)
Tastor Mie (Macedonia?)
Tebe poem (Russia)
EUROPE (OTHER)
Alle fugler (Norway)
Au jardin de la Reine (France)
Belle qui tient ma vie (France)
Dio vi salvi (Corsica)
Era la vo (Sicily)
Hvem kån Segla (Norwegian)
Ma bela bimba (Italy)
Plaisir d'amour (France)
Tourdion (France)
GEORGIA
Chela
Gogo shavtala
Lile
Mravalžamier (6 different versions!)
Shen har venahi
Suliko
Tsmindao gmerto
Varado
GOSPEL/ SPIRITUAL
All my trials
Amazing grace
Angels (one morning soon)
Balm in Gilead
Down in the river to pray
Hallelujah (he is here)
Hush, hush, somebody's calling my name
I woke up this morning
It's gonna rain
Jacob's ladder (we are climbing)
Lord don't turn your child away
Lord make me more holy
My Lord what a mourning
No ways tired
Oh happy day
Run Mary
Shine on me
Sing 'til the spirit moves
Soon I will be done ...
Steal Away
Wade in the Water
Where shall I be?
IRELAND
Parting Glass, The
Reconciliation (Ron Kavana)
JEWISH
Bim Bam
Haida
Hineh Ma Tov
Lo Yisa Goy
Shalom chaverim
Shalom l'kulam
Tumbai
Zum gali gali
MAORI/ PACIFIC
E malama (Hawaii)
E papa waiari (New Zealand)
Haere mai (New Zealand)
Heke hau (Hawaii)
Hoea ra te waka nei (New Zealand)
Mate Aroha (New Zealand)
Pokarekare Ana (New Zealand)
Te oonu (Cook Islands)
Tongo (Polynesia)
SCOTLAND
Dream Angus
Eriskay love lilt
Fhir a' bhata
Flower of Scotland
Hi ri'm bo
Mary Mack's Mither/ Furrem be Meheen
Seal Woman's Song
USA
Barbara Ann (Beach Boys)
Bright Morning Star (Shaker)
Don't worry, be happy (Bobby McFerrin)
Farther down the road (Jane Voss)
Happy together (The Turtles)
Harvest hymn (shape note)
Hey Yana (Native American Indian)
How can I keep from singing? (Robert Lowry)
I can see clearly now (Johnny Nash)
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I'm going home (shape note)
In wisdom's lovely pleasant ways (Shaker)
Ma Belle Sinkwanee (Cajun?)
Neesa (Native American Indian)
Parting Friends (shape note)
Shenandoah
Wondrous Love (shape note)
WALES
Ar lan y môr
Calon Lân
Hen Wlad fy Nhadau/ Land of my fathers
Lisa lân
MISCELLANEOUS
Ab omni malo (Latin)
Adios mama (Cuba)
Cantai ao Senhor (Brazil)
Chiapanecas (Mexico)
El condor pasa (S. America)
Halle, Halle, Halle (Caribbean)
Jack'u (S. America)
Kojo no tsuki (Japan)
Kyrie Guarany (Paraguay)
La Bamba (Mexico)
O so seo (Korea)
Party song (David Gunn/ Cuba)
Plant de letta (Jamaica)
Sakura, sakura (Japan)
XMAS
A szeleknek (Hungary)
Cherry tree carol (USA)
Christmas song (Copper family)
Coventry Carol
Cradle song
Fum, fum, fum (Spain)
Gaudete
Lulajze Jezuniu (Poland)
Patapan (France)
Rise up shepherd (US)
Sans Day Carol
Stille Nacht (Germany)
Wassail song (Polly Bolton)
While shepherds watched ...