Old Folks at Home

Intermediate syncopation on the second half of the second and third beats (& of 2, & of 3), and the fourth quarter of the second and fourth beats (uh of 2, uh of 4), a tonic octave skip, and arpeggios built on the tonic (I), the subdominant (IV), and an interval of a major 7th, Do/Ti.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Stephen Foster (1826-1864), circa. 1851
Key: C Major
Time: 4/4
Form: staves: AaBa – song: AAB, verse/chorus
Rhythm: intermediate: | ta/a ti ti ti ti | ta ta ti ta/ |
syncopation, | ta/a ta ta | ta/a/a (ta) |
| ta ti/ ri ta ta | syncopation, | ta/ ti ta ta | syncopation, | ta ti/ ri ta ti/ ri | syncopation
Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re
Intervals: advanced: Do/Mi, Do/Do8 ascending tonic octave skip, Do8\La/Do8 (m3), Do8\So\Mi\Dodescending tonic (I) arpeggio, Do/Ti (M7), Re\So (P5), So/Do (P4), Do\La\Fa descending subdominant (IV) arpeggio (F Major), Fa/La (M3)
Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; rest: quarter, repeat sign, verse/chorus, syncopation, tonic octave skip, tonic and sub-dominate arpeggios, major seventh interval Do/Ti, phrase markings for breath control.
Key Words: USA history, minstrel song, USA geography: Florida, state song of Florida, Christy Minstrels, Stephen Foster, pining for home, longing for home, life in the Southern United States, far far away, creation, sadly, roam, longing, plantation, sad and weary, Lordy, farm. wandered, squandered, songs, sung, playing, brother, mother, live and die, among, hut, bushes, rushes, rove, bee’s a humming, comb, banjo; contractions: there’s (there is), ev’rywhere (everywhere); abbreviations: ’round (around), mem’ry (memory), strummin’ (strumming) possessive: folk’s

“Old Folks at Home”
also known as:
“Swanee River”
“Suwannee River”

		1.	Way down upon the Swanee River, Far, far away, There’s where my heart is turning ever, There’s were the old folk’s stay. All up and down the whole creation, Sadly I roam, Still longing for the old plantation, And for the old folks at home.
			Chorus
			All the world is sad and dreary, Ev’rywhere I roam. Oh, Lordy how my heart grows weary Far from the old folks at home.
		2.	All ’round the little farm I wandered, When I was young, Then happy days I squandered, Many the songs I sung. When I was playing with my brother, Happy was I. Oh! take me to my kind old mother, There let me live and die.
			Chorus
		3.	One little hut among the bushes, One that I love, Still sadly to my mem’ry rushes, No matter where I rove. When will I see the bee’s a-humming, All ’round the comb? When will I hear the banjo strummin’ Down in my good old home.
			Chorus

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The Old Ark

Syncopation on the second half of the first beat (& of 1) occurs 8 times, limited range, and practicing the intervals of the tonic triad, save one; Do/La (M6).

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – African American Spiritual
Key: F Major
Time: 2/4
Form: through composed
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti ta ti | syncopation (x8),
| ta/a | ti ti ti ti | ta ta | ta/ ti | syncopation,
| ti ri ta ti | syncopation, | ti ti ta |
Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi So La – pentatonic scale
Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi, Mi\Do, Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio, Mi/So\Mi, Do/La
Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter; syncopation, two double barlines, verse/refrain, changing rhythms to match verse syllables; tempo: moderately
Key Words: USA history, African American History, Bible stories, story of the Ark, Noah’s Ark, Noah, reel, rock, mountain top, rainbow sign, children, along, God, sacred

**“The Old Ark”**

		1.	Old Ark she reel, Old Ark she rock; Old Ark a sitting on the mountain top.
			Refrain:
			Old Ark a-moving, moving, Children won’t you come along? Old Ark a-moving, I thank God! Old Ark she reel, Old Ark she rock; Old Ark a sitting on the mountain top.
		2.	God called Noah from the mountain top. Command old Noah to build his ark.
			Refrain
		3.	God told Noah by the rainbow sign, No more water but fire next time.
			Refrain

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Oh, Won’t You Sit Down?

Mastering the ascending and descending major third (M3) intervals Do/Mi and Mi\Do, with advanced syncopation on the second half of the each beat (& of 1, & of 2, & of 3, & of 4)

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – African American Spiritual
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Form: phrases: AAABCC song: ABA – refrain/verse/refrain
Rhythm: advanced: | ti ta/ ta/ ti | syncopation,
| ta ti ta ti ti ti | syncopation, | ta ti ti ti ti ti ti |
| ti ta ta (ti) (ta) | syncopation | ta ta ta ta | ta ti ta/a/ | syncopation, | ti ta ta ti ti ti | syncopation
Pitches: beginners: So La Do Re Mi
Intervals: intermediate: So/Do (P4), Do/Mi (x13), Mi\Do (x9), Re\So (P5)
Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; rests: quarter, eighth; pickup beats (begins on the second half of the third beat – & of 3), D. C al Fine, Fine, call/response, refrain/verse/refrain, syncopation on the second half of each beat, tied notes within measures, two double barlines
Key Words: USA history, African American history, African American history month, sacred, spiritual, visiting heaven, going to heaven, Lord, heaven, yonder (down the way), dressed in: red, white, blue, black, Moses, Israelite, hypocrites, bible stories; contractions: won’t (will not), can’t (cannot), who’s (who is); abbreviations: comin’ (coming), turnin’ (turning)
Keyboard: intermediate: a five finger exercise for the right, left, and two hands together

“Oh, Won’t You Sit Down?”

*Refrain*:
(boys)		(girls)
Oh, won’t you sit down?		Lord, I can’t sit down.
Oh, won’t you sit down?		Lord, I can’t sit down.
Oh, won’t you sit down?		Lord, I can’t sit down.
(girls – last time all)
Cause I just got to Heaven, gonna look around.

1.

(girls)		(boys)
Who’s that yonder dressed in red?		Must be the children that Moses led.
Who’s that yonder dressed in white?		Must be the children of the Israelite.

Refrain

2.

(girls)		(boys)
Who’s that yonder dressed in blue?		Must be the children that are comin’ through.
Who’s that yonder dressed in black?		Must be the hypocrites a-turin’ back.

Refrain

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O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Old English Christmas carol with intermediate intervals and range.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: England – John F. Wade, 1751
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Form: AB, verse/refrain
Rhythm: beginners: | ta/a ta ta | ta/a ta/a |
| ta ta ta ta | ta/a ta/ ti | syncopation
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So
Intervals: intermediate: Do\So/Do, Re\So, So/Mi, Mi\Ti, So/So (dominate octave skip), Mi\Do, Re\Ti, Do/Fa
Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; rest: quarter; vocal slur, pickup beat
Key Words: world geography: England, Bethlehem; languages: English, Latin; sacred, birth of Jesus, 18th century, faithful, triumphant, King, angels, God, exultation, citizens, heaven, Lord, appearing, adore; old English: ye (you), yea (yes); abbreviation: giv’n (given)
Recorder: intermediate: playing in G major, introducing F#

**“O Come, All Ye Faithful”**

	1.	O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him born the King of Angels:
		Refrain:
		O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
	2.	Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above; Glory to God, in the highest;
		Refrain
	3.	Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
		Refrain
	*LATIN*
	4.	Adeste fideles læti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem. Natum videte, Regem angelorum;
		Refrain:
		Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Dominum.

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Now We Shall A-Feasting Go

Straight and dotted syncopation, practicing the higher register,
begin singing in two parts.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: Iceland – Folk Song
Key: A minor – pitched in C Major
Time: 2/4
Form: ABaCCC
Rhythm: beginners: | ti ti ti ti | ti ti ta | |ta (ta) |
| ti/ ri ti ti | dotted syncopation | ta/a |
| ti ri ti ti ti | straight syncopation | ta/ (ti) |
Pitches: intermediate: La Ti Do Re Mi Fa – extended high register practice
Intervals: intermediate: La/Do, Mi\Do/Mi, Re\La, Ti/Mi (diminished fourth, d4=M3), La/Mi (perfect fifth, P5)
Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; rests: quarter, eighth; pickup beat, dotted and straight syncopation, two part, singing in parts, fermata, minor tonality where the tonic is the sixth (La) of the relative major: C; tempo: allegretto: moderately fast (98–109 BPM), poco meno mosso: little less rapid (slower)
Key Words: world geography: Iceland, sacred, Christmas, holiday season, European history, holiday feast, feasting, free, care, King Pipin, Olof, daughter, fair, dance, sing, merrily, putting, aside; Christmas Tide, abbreviation ev’ry (every)

“Now We Shall A-Feasting Go”
Now we shall a-feasting go, Free from ev’ry care, Singing of King Pipin, And Olof, his daughter fair; Let us dance merrily, Putting time aside. Who knows where we dance, The coming Christmas tide?

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Night Herding Song

Beginners syncopation, dominate and vi7 (Dm7) arpeggios, and a dominate octave skip.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Cowboy Song
Key: F Major
Time: 6/8
Form: through composed
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ti ti ti ti | ti ti ti ta ti ri | syncopation, | ti ti ti ti ti ti | ti ti ti ta ti |
| ti/ ri ti ti ti ti | syncopation, | ta ti ta ti | ta/a ti |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi So
Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi, Mi\Do\La\Sodescending vi7 (Dm7) arpeggio, La/Do, So/Mi/So(combination of M6 and m3), So\So descending dominate octave skip, Ti/Mi (P4)
Musical Elements: notes: dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eighth, sixteenth; pickup beat, arpeggio, dominate octave skip, vocal slur, tied notes
Key Words: USA history, cowboy song, cowboy vocabulary: dogies (cattle), herded, circle-herded, trail-herded, night herded; quit, roving, wandered, trampled, graze, forever, move slow, together, horse, leg-weary, awful, tired, fired, bunch up, lay down, limbs, seat is sore, laid, stretch, snore, drown, wild sound, lay still; contractions: kinda (kind of), that’s (that is), I’m (I am)that’ll (that will), (can’t (cannot); abbreviations: goin’ (going), siftin’ (sifting), ’round (around)

**“Night Herding Song”**

	1.	Oh, slow up dogies, quit roving around, You have wandered and trampled all over the ground; Oh, graze along, dogies and feed kinda slow, And don’t forever be on the go. Oh, move slow, dogies, move slow, Hi-oh, hi-oh, hi-oh!
	2.	I have circle-herded, trail-herded, night-herded too But to keep you together, that’s what I can’t do. My horse is leg-weary and I’m awful tired But if I let you get away I’m sure to get fired. Bunch up, little dogies, bunch up.
	3.	Oh say, little dogies, when you goin’ to lay down? And quit this forever siftin’ around? My limbs are weary, my seat is sore Oh, lay down, dogies, like you’ve laid before, Lay down, dogies, lay down.
	4.	Oh, lay still, dogies, since you have laid down Stretch away on the big open ground. Snore loud, little dogies, and drown the wild sound That’ll go away when the day rolls ’round, Lay still, dogies, lay still.

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New River Train

Syncopation in cut time: on the second quarter of the first beat
(ee of 1) and the second half of the first and second beat
(& of 1, & of 2) and practicing the perfect fourth (P4).

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Folk Song
Key: D Major
Time: 2/2, cut time, also shown in 4/4
Form: AaBC
Rhythm: intermediate*: | ti ri ta ti | syncopation,
| ta ti ti | ta/a_|_a ta | ti ta ti | syncopation
Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi Fa So La
Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi, Mi/So, So\Mi\Do descending tonic arpeggio, Do/Fa (P4), La\Mi
Musical Elements: notes: whole, half, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation in 2/2 time, tied notes, arpeggio, perfect fourth, vocal slur
Key Words: USA history, counting song, counting two-nine, carry, river, train, brought, love, still true, anymore, survive, trix, heaven, Pearly Gate, mine, sacred; contractions: I’m (I am), gonna (going to), can’t cannot); abbreviation: ridin’ (riding)

* How do the lyric syllables change the beat divisions and rhythms in measures eleven and twelve (11,12)?

**“New River Train”**

	1.	I’m ridin’ in that new river train, I’m ridin’ in that new river train, The same old train that brought me here’s Gonna carry me home again.
	2.	Darling, you can’t love two, Darling, you can’t love two, You can’t love two and still to me be true, Darling, you can’t love two,
	3.	Darling, you can’t love three, Darling, you can’t love three, You can’t love three and still be true to me, Darling, you can’t love three,
	4.	Darling, you can’t love four, Darling, you can’t love four, You can’t love four and love me anymore, Darling, you can’t love four,
	5.	Darling, you can’t love five, Darling, you can’t love five, You can’t love five and have me love survive, Darling, you can’t love five,
	6.	Darling, you can’t love six, Darling, you can’t love six, You can’t love six and do those trix, Darling, you can’t love six,
	7.	Darling, you can’t love seven, Darling, you can’t love seven, You can’t love seven and ever get to heaven, Darling, you can’t love seven,
	8.	Darling, you can’t love eight, Darling, you can’t love eight, You can’t love eight and pass the Pearly Gate, Darling, you can’t love eight,
	9.	Darling, you can’t love nine, Darling, you can’t love nine, You can’t love nine and still be mine, Darling, you can’t love nine,
	10.	I’m ridin’ in that new river train, I’m ridin’ in that new river train, The same old train that brought me here’s Gonna carry me home again.

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Mr. Frog Went Courtin’

Advanced syncopation on the second quarter of the first and second beats (ee of 1 and 2) and the fourth quarter of the second beat, descending vi7 arpeggio (Dm7), and mastering the ascending P4, So/Do.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Folk Song
Key: F Major
Time: 2/4
Form: through composed
Rhythm: advanced*: | ti ti ti ri ti | syncopation,
| ti ti ti ti | ta (ti) ti | syncopation, | ta (ti) ti ri |
syncopation, | ti ti ta | ti ri ti ti ti ri | syncopation
| ti ri ti ti ti |
Pitches: intermediate: Do La Do Re Mi So La – pentatonic scale
Intervals: intermediate: So/Do (x5), Mi\Do\La\So8 descending (vi7) arpeggio (Dm7),Do/Mi/So8 ascending tonic (I) arpeggio (F), So\Mi, Do\La
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth, sixteenth; pickup beat, syncopation: on the second quarter of the first and second beat (ee of 1, ee of 2), the and of the second beat (& of 2), the fourth quarter of the second beat (uh of 4), vocal slur, quarter beat rhythm variations matching verse syllables
Key Words: USA history, courting song, Mr. Frog, Miss Mouse, hall, knock, loud call, knee, marry me, blushed, hung, head, Uncle Rat, next, rode, town,niece, wedding gown; abbreviation: courtin’ (courting)

* Discover how and where beats are divided/counted, and rhythm chanted, to match the syllables in the fourth verse: “Uncle Rat.”

**“Mr. Frog Went Courtin'”**

	1.	Mr. Frog went courtin’ and he did ride, m-hm. Mr. Frog went courtin’ and he did ride, Sword and pistol by his side, m-hm.
	2.	He rode up to Miss Mousie’s hall, m-hm. He rode up to Miss Mousie’s hall, He gave a loud knock and he gave a loud call. m-hm.
	3.	He took Miss Mousie on his knee, m-hm. He took Miss Mousie on his knee, He said “Miss Mouse will you marry me?” m-hm.
	4.	Miss Mousie blushed and hung her head, m-hm. Miss Mousie blushed and hung her head, “You’ll have to ask Uncle Rat,” she said, m-hm.
	5.	Next day Uncle Rat he rode to town, m-hm. Next day Uncle Rat he rode to town, To get his niece a wedding gown, m-hm.

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Michael Finnigan

Practicing straight and syncopated eight and sixteenth rhythms.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA – Folk Song
Key: G Major
Time: 2/4
Form: ABaC
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti ri ti ti ti | syncopation,
| ti ti ti ri ti | syncopation, | ti ti ti ti |
| ti ti ti ri ti ri | ti ri ti ri ti ri ti ri |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi So
Intervals: intermediate: So/Do, Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio, So\Mi, Re\Ti, Re\So, So/Ti
Musical Elements: notes: eighth, sixteenth, pickup beat
Key Words: USA history, St. Patrick’s Day, Irish holiday, Irish names, camp song, Scout song, whiskers, chin, grew, poor, again, growing a beard, growing whiskers, fishing, pin, caught, threw, begin, grew fat, grew thin, died; contractions: don’t (do not), chinigin (chin again)

Perpetual Song: Michael Finnegan is an example of an unboundedly long song, which can continue with numerous variations until the singer decides (or is forced) to stop. Students will enjoy creating their own verses.

**“Michael Finnigan”**

	1.	There was an old man named Michael Finnigan, He grew whiskers on his chinigin, But they grew out and they grew in again Poor old Michael Finnigan, begin again..
	2.	There was an old man named Michael Finnigan He went fishing with a pin-again Caught a fish and threw it in again Poor old Michael Finnigan! Begin again…
	3.	There was an old man named Michael Finnigan He grew fat and then grew thin-again Then he died and had to begin again Poor old Michael Finnigan! Don’t begin again!

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Lukey’s Boat – NEW

Descending dominate triad (D Major), 2 perfect 4ths, and a major 6th.

Description

Grade: Fourth (4)
Origin: Newfoundland Folk Song
Key: G Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABC
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ta | ta/a/a ta | ta ta ti ti ta |
Pitches: beginners: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So
Intervals: intermediate: So/Do (P4), Mi\Do (M3), Re\La (P4), So/Mi (M6), Mi/So8\Mi (m3), Re\Ti (M3), Ti\So (m3), Re\Ti\So descending dominate triad (D Major)
Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth; rests: none; walking quarter notes, pickup beat
Key Words: Newfoundland, sea shanty, seam, chinked, putty, planted copper nails, split pea, ten pound, riddle-i-day, patent, block, grub, tub, parts of a boat: fore cuddy, (forward cabin), high-topped sails, sheet (sails), jib (triangular sail), foremost (front) head

**“Lukey’s Boat”**

	1.	Oh, Lukey’s boat is painted green, Ah-ha, me boys! Oh, Lukey’s boat is painted green, The finest boat that you’ve ever seen. Ah-ha, Aha me riddle-i-day!

	2.	Well, oh, Lukey’s boat’s got a fine fore cuddy, Ah-ha, me boys! Lukey’s boat’s got a fine fore cuddy, And every seam is chinked with put

	3.	Well, Lukey’s boat’s got high-topped sails, Ah-ha, me boys! Lukey’s boat’s got high-topped sails, The sheet was planted with copper nails. Ah-ha, Ah-ha, me a-riddle-i-day!

	4.	Oh, Lukey’s rolling out his grub, Ah-ha, me boys! Lukey’s rolling out his grub, One split pea and a ten pound tub. Ah-ha, Ah-ha, me a-riddle-i-day!

	5.	Lukey’s boat got a high-stopped jib, Ah-ha, me boys! Lukey’s boat got a high-stopped jib And a patent block to her foremast head. Ah-ha, Ah-ha, me a-riddle-i-day!

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4th Grade