Our choir size has dwindled so much that we no longer have enough people. If new people want to join we can always restart. To join our choir, contact our retired choir director listed below.
Meanwhile, the Nora choir page is an excellent resource for UU choir directors. It contains 13 years worth of choir music along with practice files for all parts. You are free to use it for your choir members to rehearse any of the music on the site.
You can contact the choir director by e-mail at , or if you do not have access to e-mail you can use the form on the comments page. Please note that if you use this form, your comment submission will not be published on the comments page. It will be forwarded as an e-mail to the choir director.
- Repertory -
These files are only to be used to learn the music.
No other use is intended.
2018 - 2019
Mother Spirit, Father Spirit
Performed on Oct 21, 2018.
Celebrating the 450th anniversary of the one of the world's first statements of religious tolerannce in 1568, in the city of Torda, in what is now Romania.
Unison
Ferenc Dávid
King János Zsigmond Zápolya of Hungary, encouraged by his Unitarian Minister Ferenc Dávid, during the Diet of 1568 issued the following proclamation: (roughly translated into English)
His majesty, our Lord, in what manner he – together with his realm – legislated in the matter of religion at the previous Diets, in the same matter now, in this Diet, reaffirms that in every place the preachers shall preach and explain the Gospel each according to his understanding of it, and if the congregation like it, well. If not, no one shall compel them for their souls would not be satisfied, but they shall be permitted to keep a preacher whose teaching they approve. Therefore none of the superintendents or others shall abuse the preachers, no one shall be reviled for his religion by anyone, according to the previous statutes, and it is not permitted that anyone should threaten anyone else by imprisonment or by removal from his post for his teaching. For faith is the gift of God and this comes from hearing, which hearing is by the word of God.
Wassail Song
Performed on Dec 16, 2018.
Traditional English Carol
Arranged by Alice Parker
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
Combine For Performances
March 31st at Mankato
&
April 7th at Nora
Everything Possible
Words & Music
by
Fred Small
For the Beauty of the Earth
Words byF. S. Pierpoint (1835-1917)
Music by John Rutter
Happy Easter
The Rose
Performed on Apr 21, 2019.
Music by Ola Gjeilo
Lyrics by Christina Rossetti
(1830-1894)
Sing Song: A Nursery Rhyme Book (1872)
by Christina Rossetti
The Rose
2017 - 2018
Harps Of Welcome
Performed on Aug 6, 2017.
Mt. Lebanon, N.Y.
Click on the above music to view a large image and then drag it by the tab to a blank space on your window.
Now if you would like, you can widen the window to make the music even larger. If that is too large, just make the window narrower again and the music will resize itself.
You should now be able to see the music and the voice players at the same time. If your screen is small, you may have to adjust the width of the windows.
Our arrangement is slightly different from the original.
All My Memories of Love
Performed on Nov 19, 2017.
Words by Anna AkhmatovaTranslation by Mark Belletini
Plainsong Melody
Unison
All the souls I’ve lost to tears now the autumn jars;
and the air around me here thickens with their song;
sing again their nameless tunes, sing again, and strong.
Willows in September touch the water clear,
set among the rushes tall of the flowing year.
Rising up from sunlit past comes the shadowed sigh
running toward me silently, love to fortify.
Many are the graceful hearts hung upon this tree.
And it seems there’s room for mine on these branches free;
and the sky above the tree, whether wet or bright,
is my ease and comforting, my good news and light.
Past Three O' Clock
Performed on Dec 17, 2017.
Traditional English Tune
“London Waits”
words by
George Ratcliffe Woodward
(1848–1934)
Note that our arrangement is slightly different.
We will be singing verses 1, 2, 6 & 8.
Click on the above music to view a large image and then drag it by the tab to a blank space in your window so you can view the music and the voice players at the same time. If you click the music again, it will even get larger image. If your screen is small, you may have to adjust your windows widths.
Down By the Salley Gardens
Performed on Feb 18, 2018.
Words byWilliam Butler Yeats
1865-1939
(Looking back on his youth.)
She passed the Salley Gardens, with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree.
But I being young and foolish, with her I did not agree.
In a field down by the river, my love and I did stand.
And on my leaning shoulder, she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs.
But I being young and foolish, and now I am full of tears.
(Repeat verse 1.)
'Tis Pretty to Be in Balinderry
Performed on Mar 18, 2018.
Traditional Irish Folk Song
Arranged by Alice Parker
The phrase "Och hone" is repeated throughout the song.
This is a Gaelic expression of grief or regret - alas or woe.
At measure 9, when the basses have the Ds in octaves, disregard the lower note.
At measure 25, and to the end, the basses should sing their notes an octave higher.
The tempo is quite slow and unchanging (approximately a dotted quarter note = 45) until we have a ritardando at measure 31, and a molto ritardando on the last measure.
Happy Easter
Look at the World
Performed on Apr 1, 2018.
Words & Music
by
John Rutter
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
Combine For Performances
April 29th at Mankato
&
May 6th at Nora
Hope And Freedom!
Music by Don BesigWords by Don Besig
&
Nancy Price
Now, O Now, I Needs Must Part
Words & Music
by
John Dowland
(1562-1622)
2016 - 2017
Because our choir is now so small and our members are unable to rehearse and perform regularly,
our rehearsal and performance schedule has been greatly reduced.
We now rehearse on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month and plan to sing for Christmas,
Easter and hopefully next year the combined choir performances with the Mankato Fellowship Choir in May.
Candlelight Carol
(Performed on Jan. 22nd, 2017.)
Words & Music
by
John Rutter
Please note that for the practice parts starting at measure 17, only the second ending is used.
Happy Easter
For the Beauty of the Earth
(Performed on Apr. 16, 2017.)
Words & Musicby
John Rutter
2015 - 2016
When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place
(Performed on Oct 25, 2015.)
Words & music by
Joyce Poley
Singing the Journey #1008
Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott
(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)
The lively 1529 version!
(Performed on Nov 15, 2015.)
Words & music by
Martin Luther
We have been asked to sing for the November 29th service. We can do it if you take some time to practice your parts before the rehearsal on Sunday.
O We Believe in Christmas
(Performed on Dec. 19, 2015.)
A Winter Night
(Performed on Dec 20, 2015.)
Words & music by
David Waggoner
The January anthem was cancelled due to bad weather.
Wayfarin' Stranger
(Performed on Feb. 21, 2016.)
Happy Easter
Look at the World
(Performed on Mar. 27, 2016.)
Words & Music
by
John Rutter
April 10th at UUFM
April 17th at Nora
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
Performed Two Songs from:
Words & Music by Alice Parker
We're Gathered Here
“The effect should be that of a prism casting moving colors on a wall, or of people moving through a gathering.”
----- Alice Parker
- Practice the unison part until you are completely comfortable with it before singing it as a round.
- The choir should divide into two, four or six groups. Equal groups of men and equal groups of women.
- We will sing as many parts as we can.
- When you reach the end, go back and sing the last section until we all finish together.
- Voices should enter in this order:
- Women: group-1
- Men: group-1
- Women: group-2
- Men: group-2
- Women: group-3
- Men: group-3
The Welcome Table
- Listen to the
SATB+piano
file to get a feel for the whole piece.
- Sing along with your individual voice part until you know it completely.
- Sing your part with the
SATB+minimal piano
file until you are comfortable singing your part with the other voices.
- Sing your part with the
SATB+piano
file until you are completely comfortable singing your part with all voices and the piano.
- Note that the piano is an independent voice in this arrangement and you can't rely on it for your part. You have to know your part!
- On the final page, the rhythmic intrepration will probably be slower and less rigid. Watch the director!
- And finally - to get a feel for the relaxed and bouncy, bright feeling of the song,
listen to a version of the song that uses bells in the place of voices.
- The bright bouncy feeling is more apparent.
- Entrances are more clear.
- The piano is there so you can hear everything but is always in the background.
- Sing along to this version and work to feel that light happy feeling and get your entrances more precisely.
2014 - 2015
Harps Of Welcome
(Performed on Oct 19, 2014.)
Mt. Lebanon, N.Y.
Morning Dawn
(Performed on Dec. 21, 2014.)
Mt. Lebanon, N.Y.
We will be singing
an arranged version.
Soprano@42
Alto@42
Soprano@65
Alto@65
Tenor@65
Bass@65
Make sure you have the latest revision!
All 8th notes in the 1st measure should have a single beam.
Note that in the men's part in measure 10, the last note has been changed to a "G" and is sustained into the next measure rather than the "F".
Everything Possible
(Performed on Feb. 15, 2015.)
Words & Music by Fred Small
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
March 8th in Hanska
March 15th in Mankato
We're Here to Sing
Music by
Robert
Schumann
Arranged by
Catherine
DeLanoy
Home
Words and Music by
Greg Holden
and
Drew Pearson
Arranged by
Greg Gilpin
Kuna Karamu
(Swahili) Let's Celebrate
Performed on Easter, April 5, 2015.
See our performance on YouTube.
Words & Music
by
Sally K. Albrecht
Norway, My Norway
“Syttende Mai Sunday”
(Performed on May 17, 2015)
Music by
Alfred Paulsen
Words by
Theodor Caspari
Arranged by
Gil Hanson
2013 - 2014
Rising Green
(Performed on Sep. 22, 2013.)
Words & music by
Carolyn McDade
Singing the Journey
#1068
2nd verse - S.A. on melody
All on melody last 9 measures
3rd verse - T.B. on melody
All on melody last 9 measures
4th verse - SAT on melody
Bass part separate
All on melody last 9 measures
Follow The Drinking Gourd
(Performed on Oct. 13, 2013.)
African American traditional
c. 1750 - 1875
Singing the Living Tradition
#152
Beginning refrain - All
1st verse - S.A.
Beginning refrain - All
2nd verse - T.B.
Beginning refrain - All
3rd verse - All
Beginning refrain - All
Simple Gifts
(Performed on Nov. 17, 2013.)
Sopranos and Tenors sing the same part.
Altos and Basses sing the same part.
Measures 13 & 14.
- Sopranos sing the upper part.
- Tenors sing the lower part.
Shaker Song
|
|
|
Adapted by Aaron Copland |
Transcribed by Irving Fine |
The Shadows Are Falling
(Performed on Dec. 15, 2013.)
Tyrolean Carol
Setting by Hermann Schroeder
Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
(Performed on Jan. 19, 2014.)
Music by John Rutter
Text from 'As you like it'
by William Shakespeare
I have used the rehearsal number "29a" to indicate the section that starts on the 2nd measure at the bottom of page 4.
Gentle Lena Clare
(Performed on Feb. 16, 2014.)
Words & music by
Stephen C. Foster
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
Combine For Performances
March 30 at Mankato
&
April 6 at Nora
The Music of Stephen Foster
Slide show of choir performance
Words & music by
Stephen C. Foster
Arranged by
Alice Parker & Robert Shaw
Some Folks
Changes have been made.
Be sure to mark your parts.
Soprano, Alto & Tenor:
Page 9; last measure;
Change half note to a quarter note followed by a quarter rest.
Alto:
Page 8; 1st stave; measure 3:
C# on 2nd note
Page 8; 2nd stave; measure 2:
8th note on 1st note
Page 10; 2nd stave; measure 2:
B on both notes
Page 11; 2nd stave; measure 3:
1st note: F, A & C.
2nd note: F & A
Tenor:
Page 8; 1st stave; measure 3:
High E on the 2nd note
Page 11; 2nd stave
Measures 1 & 2:
1st & 2nd note an 8ve lower
Measure 3:
Middle line B on 1st & 2nd note
Bass:
Page 11; 2nd stave; measure 3
Lower note only
Practice the slow versions first!
Practice slowly in order to learn the right way and not waste time having to unlearn anything you incorrectly learned by hurrying.
Don't even attempt to sing the fast version until you are completely at ease with your part.
Notice how some notes are replaced with a rest in order for you to breath. The notation doesn't tell us everything. This is where our musical style and interpretation come in. Practice slowly in a relaxed manner. Take time for good breaths and get comfortable with the style. A metranome is included in all versions to help you feel the beat. The song is not hard if you take time to learn your part.
When you know your music, first sing along to the SATB-Slow version so you can feel how your part fits with the others. Then finally sing to the SATB-Fast version. Don't force your voice. Relax and have fun. The arrangement is delightful and wonderful to sing!
- Easter Sunday -
All Things Bright and Beautiful
(Performed on Apr. 20, 2014.)
Measure 29:
Sopranos sing the alto line.
Measures 69 & 70:
Sopranos sing the lower divided soprano part.
Measure 73:
Sopranos sing the alto line.
Basses will sing the lower bass part only.
Measure 48 has a slight retardondo followed by a one beat measure for a breath.
Words & music by
John Rutter
| Hymns Of The Month | ||
|---|---|---|
| Month | Title | Source |
| August | Rank by Rank Again We Stand | #358 |
| September | We Laugh, We Cry | #354 |
| October | The Blessings of the Earth and Sky | #308 |
| November | O Star of Truth | #293 |
| December | In the Lonely Midnight | #242 |
| January | There is More Love Somewhere | #95 |
| February | Standing on the Side of Love | #1014 |
| March | Praise O My Heart to You | #284 |
| April | Lo, the Earth Awakes Again | #61 |
| May | How Could Anyone Ever Tell You? | #1053 |
| June | All Creatures of the Earth and Sky | #203 |
Please join us to sing for the Tuesday, June 3rd
Graduation Program at Mankato Central High School.
( 110 Fulton Street, Mankato, MN 56001 )
- Park in the back parking lot.
- The choir will meet in the theater at 4:00 pm.
- The program will begin at 5:00 pm.
- We will sing the two songs listed below.
- Plan for social time and dinner with the choir after the program.
| Title | Composer Arranger | mp3 Practice Files |
|---|---|---|
| Child of Tomorrow | Words and Music by Mark Patterson |
SATB Soprano@25 Alto@25 Tenor@25 Bass@25 |
| Kuna Karamu |
Words & Music by Sally K. Albrecht (Swahili - Let's Celebrate) |
SATB Soprano Alto@25 Tenor@29 Bass@29 |
2012 - 2013
When in Our Music God is Glorified
(Performed on Oct. 14, 2012.)
#36
Siyahamba (We Are Marching)
(Performed on Nov. 4, 2012.)
African (Zulu)
Edited by Anders Nyberg
Singing The Journey
#1030
Children's Song Of The Nativity
(Performed on Dec. 16, 2012.)
Arr. by Ralph Vaughn Williams
Hope And Freedom!
(Performed on Jan. 20, 2013.)
Music by Don Besig
Words by Don Besig&
Nancy Price
March 31, 2013
This year the choir and congregation will combine our voices to turn our hymn of the month into the anthem for Easter Sunday.
The congregation will practice their part by singing the new hymn with help from the choir on the four Sundays before Easter. Then on Easter Day the congregation will sing the part they have learned and the choir will sing different parts to enrich our song.
Please join us and add your voice to make our Easter service a special musical day for us all.
Love is Come Again
Old French Tune
Arr. by Alice Parker
&
Robert Shaw
Life Calls Us On
Music: Jason Shelton
Words: Kendyl Gibbons
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
April 14 at Mankato
&
April 21 at Nora
Hear Me
Music by Theodore Dubois
Arr. by Jean Horneck
Sopranos:
Sing as written.
Altos:
Hum measures 1 & 2 and sing the rest as written.
Tenors:
Hum measures 1 thru 4 and sing the rest as written.
Basses:
Hum measures 1 thru 6 and sing the rest as written.
Let There Be Music
Music by Joel Raney
Adapted by Herb Frombach
Norway, My Norway
“Syttende Mai Sunday”
May 19, 2013
Under the tent in the Hanksa park.
Words by Theodor Caspari
arr. by Gil Hanson
| Hymns Of The Month | ||
|---|---|---|
| Month | Title | Source |
| September | With Heart and Mind | #300 |
| October | Mother Spirit, Father Spirit | #8 |
| November | I Know I Can Go On | #1015 |
| December | On This Day Everywhere | #249 |
| January | The Fire of Commitment | #1028 |
| February | Once When My Heart Was Passion Free | #335 |
| March | Life Calls Us On | Shelton & Gibbons |
| April | Blue Boat Home | #1064 |
| May | Now Let Us Sing | #368 |
2011 - 2012
Gathering Day Program
Celebrating Nora UU Church's 1881 Gathering Day
With Original Music of the late 1800s
(Performed on Aug. 21, 2011.)
Query? Shall Women Vote? (1881)
Words by Joseph D Payne
Music by Frank Boylen
Little Mollie Brown (1881)
Words by Arthur W. French
Music by W. S. Milton
Slowly and Sadly (1881)
Words & Music by Arabella M. Root
I'll Marry the Man I Love (1897)
Words & Music by Monroe H. Rosenfeld
Hang Up the Baby's Stocking (1870)
Words by Emily Huntington Miller
Music by Hiram Murry Higgins
Lost (1881)
Words by C. B. Lewis; Music by Marion
The Old Kitchen Door (1881)
Words & Music by Eddie Fox
The Old Kitchen Clock (1898)
Words & Music by G. B. Brigham
Bwana Awabariki
(Performed on Oct. 16, 2011.)
Singing The Journey
#1033
Blue Boat Home
(Performed on Nov. 20, 2011.)
Music: Roland Hugh Prichard
Keyboard arr.
by Jason Shelton
Singing The Journey
#1064
O We Believe in Christmas
(Performed on Dec. 11, 2011.)
American folk hymn melody
Singing The Living Tradition
#248
January 8, 2012
10:30 a.m.
The Nora UU Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
... combined to honor the Rev. Lisa Friedman on her last Sunday at the Mankato Fellowship.
For Good
by Stephen Schwartz
Arranged by
Mac Huff
We Shall Overcome
(Performed on Jan. 15, 2012.)
Adapted by
William Farley Smith
Singing The Living Tradition
#169
How Sweet the Darkness
(Performed on Feb. 19, 2012.)
Music: Jason Shelton
Singing The Journey
#1055
Santo
(Performed on Mar. 18, 2012.)
by Carlos Guillermo
Singing The Journey
#1041
Spanish
Slower tempo
for practice.
Kuna Karamu
(Performed on Apr. 8, 2012.)
by Sally K. Albrecht
Swahili - Let's Celebrate
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
June 10 at Mankato
and
June 17 at Nora
My Life Flows On in Endless Song
How Can I Keep from Singing was written by a Baptist minister, The Rev. Robert Lowry, and first appeared in an 1869 collection of Sunday school songs, entitled Bright Jewels for the Sunday School.
The song entered Unitarian Universalism in 1969 when it was included in Songs of Faith in Man, published by the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles. Pete Seeger had sent it to the church for the songbook.
Seeger learned the song in the 1950s from Doris Plenn, who had learned it from her grandmother, a North Carolina Quaker.
Plenn changed the lyrics to protest the jailing of her friends for their political beliefs during the “witch hunts” of the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Has Sorrow Thy Young Days Shaded
Irish Tune “Sly Patrick”
Words by
Thomas Moore
(1779-1852)
Arranged by
Alice Parker
(1925- )
Has sorrow thy young days shaded,
As clouds o’er the morning fleet?
Too fast have those young days faded,
That even in sorrow were sweet?
Does time with his cold wing wither
Each feeling that once was dear?
Then child of misfortune, come hither,
I'll weep with thee, tear for tear.
Has hope, like the bird in the story,
That flitted from tree to tree.
With the talisman’s glittering glory,
Has hope been that bird to thee?
On branch after branch alighting,
The gem did she still display,
And when nearest and most inviting,
Then waft the fair gem away?
If thus the young hours have fleeted,
When sorrow itself look’d bright;
If thus the fair hope hath cheated,
That led thee along so light;
If thus the cold world now wither
Each feeling that once was dear;
Come, child of misfortune, come hither,
I'll weep with thee, tear for tear.
2010 - 2011
When in Our Music God is Glorified
(Performed on Sept. 19, 2010.)
#36
The Fire of Commitment
(Performed on Oct. 17, 2010.)
Jason Shelton
Singing The Journey#1028
We’re Gathered Here
(Performed on Nov. 21, 2010.)
Alice Parker
From “The Family Reunion”
“A Backyard Opera”
Come and Go with Me
(Performed on Nov. 28, 2010.)
Singing The Journery
#1018
Ding Dong Merrily On High
(Performed on Jan. 16, 2011.)
Carolyn Jennings
Originally scheduled for Dec., but cancelled by a blizzard, so we are singing it now!
In My Quiet Sorrow
(Performed on Mar. 20, 2011)
Jeannie Gagné
Singing the Journey #1006
Originally scheduled for Feb.,
but cancelled by a blizzard so we are adding it to our March 20 service.
Everything Possible
(Performed on Mar. 20, 2011.)
Übers Gebirg Maria geht
(Over the Hills Young Mary Hastes)
(Performed on Easter - Apr. 24, 2011.)
Music composed by Johannes Eccard
- 1st learn your part alone
- Then 2 part combinations
- Then all women
- Then all women & tenors
- Then all parts (SSATB)
- Then everything (All)
Notice how any part makes a perfect duet with any other part.
Johannes Eccard was one of the leading Lutheran composers of the 16th century.
This song, first published in 1585, places the melody in the soprano line and then goes on to display superb polyphony, while still retaining the energy of Martin Luther’s Ein feste Burg of 1529.
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
May 22 - Nora Church
June 5 - Mankato Fellowship
2009 - 2010
Heap High the Farmer's Wintry Hoard
(Performed on Nov 15, 2009.)
in our hymnal
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
(Performed on Dec 20, 2009.)
Turn the World Around
(Performed on Feb. 21, 2010.)
Let There Be Peace On Earth
(Performed on Mar 21, 2010.)
Arr. by Stickles
Just as Long as I Have Breath
(Performed on Apr 18, 2010.)
in our hymnal.
Circle of Song
Words & music by Tony TurnerArrangement by Jane Perry
This arrangement was used as the theme song
for the 2008 Annual conference and meeting
of the Canadian Unitarian Council, Ottowa, Ontario.
generously offered to the CUC as the theme song for the conference.
May 23 - Nora Church
&
June 6 - Mankato Fellowship
Spring Has Now Unwrapped the Flowers
All voices will sing the top part in unison.Alternatively, a 4-part version may be sung.
2008 - 2009
A Rose Touched By The Sun's Warm Rays
(Performed on Feb. 22, 2009.)
Seasons Change
(Performed on Mar 15, 2009.)
All Things Bright and Beautiful
(Performed on Apr 19, 2009.)
2007 - 2008
Tenting on the Old Camp Ground
(Performed on Nov 4, 2007.)
Like A Mighty Stream
(Performed on Nov 18, 2007.)
Ding Dong Merrily On High
(Performed on Dec 16, 2007.)
Everything Possible
(Performed on Mar 2, 2008.)
- Easter Sunday -
Morning Has Broken
(Performed on Mar 23, 2008)
The Nora Choir
&
The Mankato Fellowship Choir
April 6th in Mankato
April 20th in Hanska
The Road to The Isles
2006 - 2007
Turn the World Around
(Performed Oct 29, 2006)
A Rose Touched By The Sun's Warm Rays
(Performed Nov 26, 2006)
Note that in measures 8 and 9, the soprano part has been altered in order to make it more singable for sopranos with a limited upper range.
A Joyous Christmas Song
(Performed Dec 3, 2006)
Note that a special soprano part was created in order to make it more singable for sopranos with a limited upper range.
- Easter Sunday -
All Things Bright and Beautiful
(Performed Apr 8, 2007)
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