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Product Description by our Music Experts
The ABRSM Songbook Book 1 (with CD) is a collection of 32 songs from around the world, arranged for grade 1 voice - many of these pieces are on the ABRSM grade 1 syllabus.
Grade 1 songbook
The collection of pieces in the ABRSM Songbook Book 1 contains 20 ‘Art Songs’, and 12 ‘Traditional Songs’, arranged for grade 1 standard voice by Carol Barratt. The ‘Art Songs’ include ‘A dream is a wish your heart makes’ from Cinderella, ‘Walking in the air’ from The Snowman, and ‘Where is love?’ from Oliver. Useful stave diagrams before each of these piece shows you the range of notes each piece covers. The 12 ‘Traditional Songs’ are compiled from all over the world, taking you to China with ‘Xiao Baicai’, Romania with ‘Sus in Poara Raiului’, the USA with ‘Maple Sweet’, Malaysia with ‘Jinkli Nona’ and back to England with ‘Mick Miles’.
Pieces from the ABRSM grade 1 singing syllabus
The ABRSM songbook book 1 contains a range of pieces from the ABRSM grade 1 singing syllabus (‘Art Songs’), and other ‘Traditional Songs’, which can be used for the other part of your exam, where you have to sing a traditional song of your own choice. You are advised to check the ABRSM singing exam syllabus if you intend to sing any of these pieces for your grade 1 singing exam, for the full details on the requirements.
Interpretation of lyrics and music
Lyrics to all songs are printed in phonetic versions of the original language and English translations, where needed, so you can sing them in either language - on the included CD there is a pronunciation guide for all of the songs. Unlike the ‘Art Songs’, the ‘Traditional Songs’ do not have performance directions, giving you freedom to decide your own dynamics, tempo and ornamentation, and they are unaccompanied, so you can change the pitch to suit your voice. There are also useful guidance/background notes on the origin/intended meaning for all of the pieces in the ABRSM Songbook Book 1, to help you with your emotional interpretations of these songs.
Backing CD plus pronunciation guide
The CD contains ‘minus one’ piano accompaniments for the art songs for you to sing along to, and pronunciation guides for all songs.
Contents (by section, A-Z)
Art Songs
- A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes (Cinderella) - M. David, A. Hoffman, J. Livingstone
- Aupres De Ma Blonde - French trad. (arr. C. Barratt)
- Cuckoo - M. Shaw
- Die Nachtigall - German trad. (arr. J. Brahms)
- Dona, Dona - S. Secunda (arr. C. Barratt)
- Good Morrow to you, Springtime! - H.S. Roberton
- Grandfather Clock - T.F. Dunhill
- Home on the Range - American trad.(arr. A. Bullard)
- Home on the Range - American trad.(arr. C. Barratt)
- La Cucaracha - Mexican trad. (arr. C. Barratt)
- Noel Nouvelet - French trad. (arr. C. Barratt)
- Omens of Spring - W.H. Anderson
- Quem Pastores Laudavere (Cantional (1627))- J.H. Schein
- Song of the Boats - B. Roe
- The Crocodile - P. Jenkyns
- The Miller of Dee - English trad.(arr. A. Bullard)
- The Miller of Dee - English trad. (arr. C. Barratt)
- The Spinning Wheel - Irish trad. (arr. C. Barratt)
- Walking in the Air - H. Blake
- Where Is Love? (Oliver!) - L. Bart
Traditional Songs
- Aija, Zuzu (Latvia)
- Igama La Bantwana (South Africa, Zulu)
- Jinkli Nona (Malacca, Malaysia)
- Maple Sweet (Vermont, USA)
- Mick Miles (Sussex, England)
- Mr Colburn (St Croix, US Virgin Islands)
- Sing Ivy (Sussex, England)
- Spinn, Spinn (Germany)
- Sus In Poarta Raiului (Romania)
- Un Jour Sur Le Pont De Treguier (Brittany, France)
- When The Spring Comes In (Sussex, England)
- Xiao Baicai (Hebei Province, China)