The vocal arrangements for the tour are now available as sheet music. Please download them at your leisure if you wish to prepare your music in advance. Hopefully you will take the time to prepare since we have very few hours of formal rehearsals to prepare the program for our on-board performance on September 9. If you are unable to print the arrangements, Martina Peladeau will be preparing a booklet of the pieces soon. Please contact her if you need one.

For this cruise, I have concentrated on music from British Columbia, Washington State, the Yukon and Alaska.  My choices are based on my personal preferences and reflect a pro-union bias as for much of my early career, I was a singer at labour rallies. All of the arrangements are mine. I have also included two original compositions, one with a poem by E. Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake).

A few of the songs were previously arranged for mixed voice choir or male voice choir The copyright dates will indicate the date of original arrangement. If it is 2021 or 2022, then the song was arranged for this tour. Generally, for these tours, I have found that 3-part arrangements are the most satisfying choice. However, one does at times lose the density that 4 parts can provide.

If you are unfamiliar with reading music and part singing, then I invite you to sing the melody for all songs. If you are a choral singer and want the challenge of part singing, that should make for a fun time rehearsing as we sail through the Inside Passage and across Hecate Strait.

I regret that the Altos are shortchanged. Sopranos should note that in several of the arrangements, the men have the melody.

I am hoping to have a “band” accompany the choir.  The members will be made up of registrants who wish to bring a guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, or other instruments. All the songs have been written in guitar friendly keys. Chord charts are written for all of the arrangements. If you are interested and prepared to bring your instrument on the ship, then I invite you to be in the band. Please let me know quickly.

Many of the song verses are sung in unison. The choruses are always in harmony. There is some opportunity for solos. If you wish to try a solo, please let me know soon. peterdent@telus.net or 250-298-6756. I have indicated where the solo options are.

Here is the list of songs and the order of performance.

Click on a song title to hear rehearsal music. A depending on your device a press and hold, or double click, or right click should give you the option of downloading the music file to your PC. The rehearsal music is set up so each voice is represented by a different instrument (Soprano - flute, Alto - Clarinet, Bass - Bassoon). Also the Sopranos and Basses should sound like they come from the left or right speakers (depending on how you set up your speakers).

(+) Acres of Clams                   Puget Sound, Washington State
Beautiful British Columbia        BC
(*) I Can Be Your Guide             BC Geography        
(++) Bevan                               Vancouver Island
Summer Wages                        Coastal BC                
Trail to Lillooet                         Interior of BC  
(**) A Western Song                 Fraser Canyon
(+++) St. Mary's Spring           Haida Gwaii
Where the Fraser River Flows  Northern BC
Klondike
(***) North to Alaska
 

Finally, please remember that this is a singing holiday. Whatever your experience or skill level, your voice and enthusiasm are welcome. Please have fun.

I hope that this tour will be a very special memory of life after the pandemic. I look forward to seeing you on board the Koningsdam on September 3rd. Please keep an eye out for the location, dates and times of the rehearsals.

Peter

(+) This is a patter song. As such there is much repetition of the text. I have omitted several verses and only provided music for the first verse and chorus. If you look at the lyrics, you will see the structure of the piece. I welcome soloists to sing the first to lines of the new verses.

(*) These are my lyrics. I have included only the words of the 4 verses. For those interested in singing one of the solo verses, please listen to Hank Snow’s “I’ve Been Everywhere”. Because of the lyrics, it is more likely that British Columbians will be familiar with the pronunciation of some of the place names.

(++) I have been singing this song for years. I’m happy to sing the verses but I think there might be some others who know it.

(**) As this is my original composition, I will do the two verses.

(+++) I have asked John Coulthard to do the solo work on this piece.

(***) Those of my vintage will remember the title tune from the movie of the same name starring John Wayne, Stewart Grainger and Capucine. It is a long song and works better as a solo with the choir doing the chorus. I invite some of you to share the solo work if you see fit.

GROUP SCHEDULE

September 3^rd check in 12-2pm details tba                      

September 3^rd  Cocktail party 5pm-6pm Captains Corner Crow’s Nest  

September 4^th 1. Choir Rehearsal 3-5pm Hudson Room

September 5^th 2. Choir Rehearsal 9:30-11am Hudson Room

September 7^th 3. Choir Rehearsal 4:30-6pm Hudson Room

September 9^th 4. Choir Rehearsal 9:30-11am Hudson Room

September 9^th   Sing a Long Performance 3-4pm Crow’s Nest

September 9^th Farewell Party 4:30pm-5:30pm Captain’s Corner Crow’s Nest

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