Appalachian Song / Greg Gilpin

Treble.
Gilpin's setting of an Appalachian fiddle tune from the mid-1800s is quite comical as it creates the story of someone chasing down their aging hen, trying to get it to lay eggs. By the end, the owner is threatening to give the hen away. Highly recommended for the rhythmic engagement. "Clucking"  fun to sing! Also available for Three-Part Mixed Voices (BL1275). 
It is said that Cluck Ol' Hen is an Appalachian fiddle tune from the mid-1800's. As with many folk tunes that began as instrumental songs, words were added by various people throughout the years. The song is quite comical and creates the story of someone chasing down their aging hen trying to get it to lay eggs. By the end, the owner is threatening to give the hen away.I have selected a few verses or phrases for this particular arrangement. I have used unison singing for everyone to learn the melody, echoing to create some easy harmonic interest and layers and a rhythmic part of "cluck cluck" imitating the chicken. I love rhythm and this arrangement makes for a great rhythmic teaching piece.Teaching Suggestions: When teaching, explore the piece for warm-up ideas.  There are many phrases that can be isolated and used as warm-ups.  It's also a great way to introduce the piece before they actually have seen it! Practice the "cluck cluck" phrases with clapping the rhythms and foot stomping on the rests. Perhaps add this to your performance for some physical and visual fun! Practice some solfege patterns, leaving out the 3rd (or Mi) and let the choir experience and hear an "open chord." Have them find examples of open chords throughout the piece in the vocals as well as the piano accompaniment. Have your choir make up their own words, adding to the history of the written music.I love folk songs and the history as well as the mystery of them. I hope you'll find lots of teaching moments with this one as well as a performance piece your singers and audience are sure to love.Greg Gilpin

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