This intermediate arrangement of Away in a Manger combines three well known tunes that are commonly associated with this beloved carol. Two tunes are sung in a gentle counterpoint, trading back and forth between the men and the women’s voices, then the third tune takes up the second verse after which the counterpoint returns. The arrangement ends on the peaceful coda generally associated with tune three.

There is also an SSATB arrangement of “Away in a Manger” on ChoirWorks.com. You can also find a full-preview of the work on this page.

The Text:
Away in a manger, No crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus, Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.

I thought this fun little Halloween gem from 1881 was perfect for my children’s choir and prepared a 2-part choral part to go along with the piano part from the original sheet music. You’ll need to download both files.

• Personent Hodie $2
  for 2-part Choir and Hand Chimes

A simple, 2-part processional Christmas Carol with hand chimes. 1-page.

Text:

Personent hodie voces puerulae, laudantes jucunde qui nobis est natus, summo Deo datus, Ideo-o-o, Ideo-o-o, Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.

On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing To the Lord, to our King, Born on earth to save us; Him the Fa-ther gave us, Ideo-o-o, Ideo-o-o, Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.

God’s bright star o’er His head, wise men three, to Him led, Kneel they low, by His bed, lay their gifts before him, praise Him and adore Him. Ideo-o-o, Ideo-o-o, Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.

Mix & Match your Ensembles (a great match for multi-choir programs):

• Solo Voice and Piano
• 2-part Choir and Piano
• SSA Choir and Piano
• SAB Choir and Piano
• SATB Choir & Piano
• Solo Voice and Ukulele

Contents:

1. A Tree Toad Loved a She Toad
2. Swan Swam Over Sea
3. Betty Botter
4. That Felt!
5. Yellow Butter, Purple Jelly
6. A Flea and Fly
7. Black Bug
8. The Ghosts!
9. Night Light
10. Silly Sally

CHOIRWORKS.COM
mryan@choirworks.com

• The 4th of July (PDF)

This words to this song were written by two class members of the American Fork Children’s Choir and then combined. The melody was written in class and then harmonized by me. It was performed at the culmination of our 2010-11 season.

Words:

When King George ruled the thirteen colonies, taxing us unfairly.
We, wanting to be free from tyranny, sent The Declaration.
The British were so angry they declared war and sent the red coats.
Our fathers fought for freedom and they won us our liberation.
This, of course, gives the reason we all cheer on the 4th of July.

Watch on YouTube

1st verse : unison
2nd verse : utilizes ‘freeze notes’
3rd verse : melody and descant
short coda

The Text:

I gave my love a cherry without a stone
I gave my love a chicken without a bone
I gave my love a ring that had no end
I gave my love a baby with no crying

How can there be a cherry that has no stone?
How can there be a chicken that has no bone?
How can there be a ring that has no end?
How can there be a baby with no crying?

A cherry when it’s blooming it has no stone
A chicken when it’s pipping, it has no bone
A ring while it’s rolling, it has no end
A baby when it’s sleeping, has no crying

2-Part Children’s Choir & Piano
Text by Anonymous
Music by M Ryan Taylor

Once there was a snowman,
Who stood outside the door,
He wished that he could come inside,
And run about the floor.
He wished that he could warm himself,
Beside the fire, so red,
He wished that he could climb
Upon the big white bed.

So he called the North Wind,
“Come and help me, pray,
For I’m completely frozen,
Standing here all day.”
So the North Wind came along,
And blew him in the door,
And now there is nothing
But a puddle on the floor!

See additional versions of this song for solo voices at OldFatherChristmas.com. Also includes accompaniment MP3s you might find useful.

This new arrangement is based on a track from of my popular children’s CD, Thirteen for Halloween. It has been keyed up to d-minor to make it more appropriate for children’s voices. Optionally, a training children’s choir can sing the melody in unison, if desired.

Here is the track the arrangement is based on:

The Text:

“Welcome,” said the spi-der,
“Come right in.”
“I’m so glad to have you,
I feel mighty thin.”

“Rest your weary bones,
lay down your pack;
the time has now come
to have a snack!”

~ M Ryan Taylor

Copyright © 2005 M Ryan Taylor / Vocal Works
Please do not post on other websites.