Welcome All Wonders - Brunner

Title: Welcome All Wonders
Composer/Lyricist: David Brunner
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes (distributed by Hal Leonard)
Catalogue #: M-051-47715-9 (48019534)
JW Pepper Cat. #: 10040100
Price: $1.80
Duration: 2:30
Voicing: 2-part
Obligatto: None
Key: C
Tessitura: Pt. 1: c-e', Pt. 2: a-e'
Piano Difficulty: Moderate
Recording Available:

Notes: I am not usually drawn to the works of David Brunner, but this little gem is so brilliantly simple and beautifully lyrical that you can't help but fall in love with it immediately. The text is quite old and is alternately set by Wayne Dirksen for SATB choir. That setting is more celebratory, while Brunner's is much more reflective and contemplative.

The piano part is relatively uncomplicated and almost always follows the voices. When it does not, it is the harmony line that is left unsupported - however, this happens on 3 times. The first time through the text is in unison and provides a great opportunity to practice solfege above an octave (Mi'-Re'-Do') in m. 17 and m. 20. The challenge will be in the opening phrase - skips of a descending 5th, ascending 5th, descending again, an ascending octave, and a descending 4th in the space of a 4-beat measure. This, however, is a fantastic opportunity to introduce "uncommon" solfege patterns (Fa-Re, Sol-Re, Mi-Ti, Fa-Do', etc.)

The second time through the text starts in unison and splits to harmony at m. 29. Both parts stay separate until the final measure of voices in m. 42. The middle of the second "verse" also has a slightly complex molto rit. section that will require special attention in m. 34.

Rhythm will be the most challenging aspect of this piece, btu should be easily manageable. It will prvide a good opportunity to practice switching between duple and triple rhythms and starting a prhase on the upbeat of beat 1. Again, the most challenging thing will be m. 24, where Part 2 has 2 quarter notes on beats 3&$, while Part 1 has a dotted quarter note follwed by an eighth note, with fermatas over the last note of each part. Conducting it will be easy - getting the singers, especially inexperienced ones, to truly understand it will be more difficult.

Though intended for beginning choirs, any choir (including men's chorus) will enjoy this very delightful and thoughtful setting of a classic (technically Baroque, but who's counting) text. Highly recommended for middle school choirs or sufficiently advanced elementary choirs.