Practice Files/Example Recordings

Links to help familiarize you with the Willapa Harbor Chorale Christmas 2024 Concert music.

A bit about the practice files: all vocal parts are present in each "part" file as "piano + voice" (syynthesizer "aah"--sometimes a little funny sounding). The focus part for each file is much louder than the other parts. The tempo and rhythms are about what we are aiming for, HOWEVER, there is no dynamic variation in these files. We'll work on that in rehearsal. If there are solos, they are included also.

Believe:

Performance HERE. Publisher performance w/instruments.
PRACTICE: Soprano I
PRACTICE: Soprano II
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

Candlelight Carol:

Performance HERE. Composer-conducted performance with the Cambridge Singers. Probably the definitive performance of this song. The video is pretty quiet.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Baritone
PRACTICE: Bass

Carol of the Bells:

Performance HERE. Awesome performance by the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul in Montréal.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

Christmas Classic Celebration:

Performance HERE. Really good performance by the Charlotte Chorale North Carolina.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

Huron Carol:

Performance HERE. Performance by a small choir of High School-age singers. They do quite a good job.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Descant
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

In the Bleak Midwinter:

Performance HERE. High School choir. The Tenors & Basses struggle a bit.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

O Come, O Come Emmanuel:

Performance 1: HERE. Professionally recorded Robert Shaw Chamber Singers version. A little speedy in places, but they are spot on with the pitch all the way through.

Performance 2: HERE. Live performance, more along the speed we're looking for. They sing the whole song a half-step lower than written and only sag a little by the end. They have a great sound.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

Sanctus Noel:

Performance HERE. Couldn't find a version in English. This one is sung in Korean by the Niagara Korean Presbyterian Church choir. A little rough, and doesn't have the flute part.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

Sifuni Leo!:

Performance HERE. Pretty good performance by the NoVA Lights Chorale, with some percussion.
PRACTICE: Soprano I
PRACTICE: Soprano II
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

The Simple Gifts of Christmas:

Performance HERE. Not a lot of options to choose from for this one. They did not include the flute part.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

Sleigh Bells:

Performance HERE. Publisher-provided performance. Spot on.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

'Twas the Night Before Christmas:

Performance HERE. University of Utah combined choirs. Awesome performance, but we won't worry about the choreography...
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Tenor Solo
PRACTICE: Bass

Vamos Todos a Belén:

Performance HERE. Looks like a High School performance, with guitar. They sing it in Spanish, a little slower than we want to, but overall a good performance.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass

White Is in the Winter Night:

Performance HERE. Publisher-provided performance with instruments other than piano as accompaniment. Good performance.
PRACTICE: Soprano
PRACTICE: Alto
PRACTICE: Tenor
PRACTICE: Bass