Songs for assemblies - gospel and other great songs

Material assembled for teacher LLN training sessions in Cumbria, Summer 2010

Ain't gonna let nobody - traditional arranged by Sharon Durant

Original arrangement of this North American protest song - tune, 3 backing harmonies and optional bassline- very popular. Easy to teach tune and incorporate backing as appropriate. Acapella or easy chord accompaniment.
mp3 | score | lyrics

Balm in Gilead

Traditional gospel song
mp3 (sung here by Bewcastle Community Choir)

Chiro Chacho

Fantastic South African song in 7.
mp3

Freedom Is Coming

Traditional gospel song. Easy harmony parts with exciting counter melody.
KS 1,2,3 adult
score | mp3s - all parts |harmony 1 | harmony 2 | harmony 3

Go Down, Moses

Traditional spiritual. Speaks of release from oppression and can be related to both a cry for freedom and a religous expression. This is a simple folk version.
KS 1,2,3 adult
mp3 | score

Good News, Chariots a'comin

Traditional spiritual. Many different versions - more to come. This one is simple.
KS 1,2,3 adult
score

Let It Out - Airto Moreira arr. Jilly Jarman

Amazingly popular with groups and soloists from primary up. Here is a 3-part harmony version with vocal bassline and a 2-part riff inspired by the original solo. Buy the original: beatboxing vocals fantastic. (last track on Life After That)
KEY STAGE 2 & 3
score | mp3

Mama Don't Allow No Music

Originally a skiffle/bluegrass song from the US which has been adapted to almost every style.
Very popular.
You can bring in all the different instruments and make up new categories - beatboxers, walkin’ bass, plinky-plonk piano - etc. Easy to add percussion to and mimic the sounds of the instruments.
This is a jazz variation on the tune with a really easy accompaniment.
mp3 | pdf

Noyana

Traditional Zulu. Taught to Sian by Black Voices. 2 soprano, 2 alto parts with optional bass part. The words mean, 'As we journey through our life, have we done enough to get to Heaven?'
mp3 | score

Oh Freedom - Spiritual

Traditional gospel and liberation song from America. Many different versions sung by choirs, acapella groups, folk and protest singers.
KEY STAGE 2 to adult
score

Oh Mary Don't You Weep

Traditional gospel and liberation song
Arranged here in two parts. Score is now lower in D, mp3 still in higher key until I re-record it.
score | mp3 complete arrangement | melody line | harmony line

One Day

Deep down in my soul
mp3 | mp3 round | score

Over My Head

Gospel Song - parts sung by Sharon Durant
mp3 all parts | mp3 2 | mp3 3 | mp3 4

Shalom Chaverim

Traditional Israeli folk song. Sung as a round. There are many different versions of this using combinations of Hebrew and English words.
score | lyrics

Siyabonga

Traditional Zulu song with harmonies. Fantastic to sing in large groups.
Siyabonga baba (Thank you father)
Siyabonga Jesu (Thank you Jesus)
Siyabonga baba (Thank you father)
Nkosi sikelele (God bless)
mp3


Sing Up



Sing Up, the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, produced by Youth Music with AMV-BBDO, Faber Music and The Sage Gateshead supported by Government.
Vocal Union is part-funded through Sing Up and is part of its national singing programme.