Cypress Choral Music

Arranger: Stephen Hatfield
Format: Choral Octavo
Voicing: SAB with piano accompaniment

Based on a traditional Peteneras melody that makes me dance around the room to my own drummer, this Flamenco-drenched story starts at a slow, moody rubato and then builds full speed ahead. The piano gets to burn slowly then spit fire. The piece gives the option of two different endings, one more advanced with divisi in every vocal part. Although an advanced choir would find plenty to challenge their styling and energy, the piece is meant to lie within the vocal ranges and the capabilities of a good middle-school choir -- it was in fact Kingswood-Oxford Middle School who commissioned the piece. There are some passages of simple divisi in the soprano line, and a moment here and there where there is an optional tenor phrase that rises from the baritone. An entire curriculum unit could be based on the piece if desired, for the score comes with copious background notes on the style and history of Flamenco, bullfights, handclap techniques, and the stories of the real Paquiro and Frascuelo, the two characters in the song. Yes, they were real, but they did not live at the same time, so if these two bullfighters are having and argument in a cafe, its no cafe in this world. - Stephen Hatfield
Duration: 4:05