Be Careful, Don't Tear the Paper (A series of exhortations concerning thrift)

words by Jean Sramek; music traditional English, arr. J. David Moore

This arrangement was made for the 2003 "Happy Merry Lyric Contest," hosted by Minnesota Public Radio. Listeners were invited to submit new lyrics to three familiar Christmas carols and the winners, chosen on the basis of cleverness and singability, got to hear their efforts sung by Dare To Breathe on the air. The lyrics here presented were written by Jean Sramek to the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Here is the first refrain:

Be careful, don't tear the paper
be careful taking the tape off
be careful to save the ribbon
we can use them next year.

Brasil não Seremos Jamais, Ou Seremos?

Caprichoso de Pilares; arr. David Moore

A Brazilian street samba for Carneval. Lots of vocal percussion. Thanks heaps to Twin Cities recorder whiz Clea Galhano for the pronunciation and translation.

Coffee Calling

words by Mark Dietrich, music by David Moore

An original doo-wop with lyrics by Mark Dietrich. Written as a promotion for Dunn Brothers Coffee Shops in the Twin Cities, but easily turned into a general paean to the loving cup with the substitution of a few words. My favorite line: "two hours work in ten seconds flat/Decaf drinkers can't do that."

Crossing the Bar

words by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, music by David Moore

Tennyson's meditation on death using the metaphor of a ship setting out of quiet harbor. This was written for a dance piece called Solstice River, performed on the summer solstice. There is an mythological connotation of the day as a funeral for the dying sun. For mezzo-soprano solo; the original trombone quartet was rearranged for a cappella choir. Simple, warm, blissful..

Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun

Phillip Rosseter; adapt. and arr. David Moore

From "Cymbeline" comes one of Shakespeare's most haunting song lyrics. Set to the tune of an Elizabethan lute song, and arranged in the style of the time. This version was done for a Shakespeare festival in Portsmouth, Ohio.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

traditional American; arr. DTB

As much of a theme song as Dare To Breathe had. A Sacred Harp-inspired treatment of an American folk hymn.

Jigs

traditional Irish; arr. Moore

A medley of three jigs: The Swallow's Tail, Morrison's Jig, and The Irish Washerwoman. The fiddle part is split between the two soprano voices. The vocal style is known as "diddling" or "lilting" and was developed during a time when Irish music and culture were outlawed by the British, and so, without fiddles or bagpipes to dance to, revelers would sing the instrumental parts.

Jingle Bells

words and music by James Pierpont
SATTB, a cappella

Dare To Breathe was hired recently to sing the winners of the Minnesota Public Radio's "Happy Merry Song Lyric Contest." A very fun job, and resulted in three new arrangements, including this one of a song that I never thought I'd want to sing again. Very fast, with some surprising rhythmic elements.

order from Fresh Ayre Music

Litanei

Franz Schubert; arr. Moore

An art song for All Soul's Day. Melody for tenor or baritone.

The Lone, Wild Bird

trad. American; arr. DTB

A sweet song of comfort and interconnectedness from The Sacred Harp tradition.

Searching For Lambs

trad. English; arr. DTB

David learned this haunting tune from the singing of Maddy Prior and Steeleye Span, a British folk-rock group of the 1970's. One of innumerable songs about the flush of new love that begin "As I walked out..."

Silver Dagger

traditional American; arr. Linda Kachelmeier

A tragic, hopeless love song from our first recording. Linda first heard this sung by Joan Baez in the Nancy Savuca film "Dogfight." For mezzo-soprano solo and either four- or five-part accompaniment.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

trad. English; arr. Moore
SATTBB, a cappella

Short and bright, with a tenor solo for the slow part. Perfect as the last doorstep carol of the evening.

available from Fresh Ayre Music,