Betty Bertaux

Sing Me a Song is one of the more popular Italian canzonetta of the late 16th Century. Similar to the madrigal with a secular text, the canzonetta is less serious with bright melodies and up-beat, dan...

First sung by 17th century African slaves in Bolivia, this song of celebration uses a unique Afro-Hispanic dialect. It was most likely performed and danced at the manger scene on Christmas Eve, accomp...

Based on a 16th century German chorale, this work is an excellent tool for teaching expressive singing and musical phrasing. May be programmed for any concert with the theme of music.

Based on a poem by Lewis Carroll, this charming work for unison treble voices with limited ranges is suitable for even the younger singers. The music captures the essence of the Carroll text, with its...

Composer Betty Bertaux selected the poetry of 11 year old musician and dancer Elizabeth Porter Eachus for the Fairfax Children's Chorus 2012 project, The Poetry of Music: Shall We Dance? With a piano...

The imperative mood of this playful selection refers to the text's lighthearted “commanding” of various springtime occurrences to take place in the country.

An arrangement of a song from The Sacred Harp songbook, the basis of the longstanding community “shape-note” singing tradition in the rural South. This selection is winningly lyrical and h...

This new version of a well-known song makes a clear break from tradition to set the melody free and let it return to its roots. The accompanying flute and handbells lend a suitably medieval timbre to...

This moving arrangement was performed by the Children's Chorus of Maryland at the National Tribute Memorial Service for Fallen Firefighters in October 2002, honoring over 400 men and women who perishe...

This familiar song unfolds as a stylistic travelogue in variation form. The treatment of each variation is usually dictated by the content of the verse itself. The piece concludes in barbershop-style...

Chorpartitur (engl.) - Kinderchor (SA) und Klavier (Orgel)

There are countless wassail songs from the many regions of Great Britain, but Cornish Wassail derives from Cornwall, in the south of England. This cheerful, unison arrangement has two possible endings...

The song S'Vivon depicts the Hanukkah dreydl, a small top with four sides. Each side of the dreydl contains one of the four Hebrew initials of the phrase, “(A) Great Miracle Happened There.&rdqu...

Tongue twisters are fun for all ages. This setting of three includes: 'Mules' an enticing tango; 'Betty Botter's Butter' with stylistic hints of Gilbert and Sullivan, includes a canon with a mid-strea...

This arrangement of the familiar work song is both spontaneous and fun to sing. Accordingly, it may be used informally without the piano accompaniment.

Originally conceived at the request of Children's Chorus of Maryland, this arrangement of an old Praetorius melody was intended to be accessible to singers ranging in age from 6 to 17 years. The tune...

How good and pleasant it is that people live together in peace.' This compelling Israeli melody with its Dorian nature, small range, stepwise motion, and repetitive text is perfectly suited for singer...

Robert Coltart, the 'Coulter' of this song, probably lived in the 1800's. He was a candy maker who sold his candy at all the country fairs and markets in the Lowland border towns in Scotland. He was f...

This moving arrangement was performed by the Children's Chorus of Maryland at the National Tribute Memorial Service for Fallen Firefighters in October 2002, honoring over 400 men and women who perishe...

While this canon may sound quite serious, it was written in friendly jest for Beethoven's friend, Abbé Stadler, a priest. The first two phrases are written in Italian to signify the relationship of th...