Choral Repertoire

Primary sources are the raw materials of history: The eyewitness accounts, the photographs, the correspondences. Primary sources empower students to think analytically about the world around them using evidence-based strategies. The same can be true for musical primary sources!

The collections at the Library of Congress can uncover historic scores and composers who have been overlooked by the passing decades. Re-imagining the works of diverse composers enables students to think analytically about music, consider the perspectives of others more empathetically, exposes them to a more diverse body of musical traditions, and inspires them to add their own unique voice to America's musical traditions.

The Boston Glee Book Lowell Mason, George J. Webb, various voicing

Deep River H. T. Burleigh, SSA

Don't Be Weary, Traveler R. Nathaniel Dett, SSATBB

The Frog's Singing School Homer N. Bartlett, SATB

Ojala Patty Stair and George Eliot, SSAA

Railroad Glee Septimus Winner, 2-part

The Suffragettes Elwood Keney Heyser, SSA

Sounds of the Singing School P. P. Bliss, five-part round

The Southern Harmony Shape-Note Hymnal

The Spelling Bee Septimus Winner, SATB

Vive la Compagnie, SAB(div.)

Where Home Is George Frederick Root, SATB

Who'll Buy Jams R. Murray, SATB

Relevant Resources

The National Association for Music Education offers Teaching with Primary Sources curriculum units for chorus, general music, orchestra, and band across grade level. This project, made possible through a Library of Congress grant, embeds primary-source materials within inquiry-based lessons aligned to the Core Arts Standards. For Music

The Institute for Composer Diversity provides databases to build awareness of diverse composers. Using this database can lead researchers to discover pieces available at the Library of Congress.