1. VIII
Title: Haida
Unison/Two-part Canon with Piano Accompaniment
Composer: anon. Chassidic Round, arr. Henry Leck, accompaniment, Thomas Gerber
Text: Nonsense syllables
Publisher: Plymouth Music Co. 1994, 33334
Background Information:
From www. askmoses.com: A Chassidic melody or “Nigun” melody is a wordless tune or
a tune using meaningless syllables. Unlike Western music, Chassidic music does not
provide narrative or description. The select group of sounds in a set pattern is said to
evoke a sense of timelessness or inner space. It is suggested that this provides a stronger
transcendental communication. To the Chassidim, it wasn’t what you did but how you
did it – with true happiness, positivism, and good cheer.
www.angelfire.com/nb2/musicedresources/ElemRepe.htm: A recording of Haida,
performed by the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, conducted by Henry Leck, can be
ordered at this site.
Musical Elements:
Meter: 4/4
Tempo: Andantino; with a swagger
Form: Piano Intro, A (a a) B (b b), repeat, Voice II begins A when Voice I
begins B, repeat, Coda A-a1
, piano cadence.
Tonality: g minor
Phrasing and Harmony: Marked in the score
Dynamics: p, f
2. Vocal Technique Elements:
Range: d – d1
Tessitura: g- d1
Pitch set: Melody - g la: M1 Si1 L1 T1 D R M
Rhythm: ≈, ç, ∂, å , ti-ti-ka ti-ti, and eighth rest-ti ti-ti patterns repeated in A and
B
Harmony: canon and piano accompaniment provide traditional harmonic functions
Text: nonsense syllables
Elements Related to Teaching:
Appropriate Grade Level: Advanced 3rd
– Adult
Difficult Sections: ti-ti-ka ti-ti and eighth rest-ti ti-ti patterns, tuning of the minor
and major seconds
Possible Teaching sequence:
Objective: To perform Haida with true happiness and good cheer.
Warm-up activities: use of rhythmic patterns and g minor sol-fa pattern used in
piece
Motivation: Discuss the meaning of a Chassidic Tune using background info.
Teacher sings melody; ask students to listen for Chassidic or Nigun qualities
Procedure: Students clap and say rhythm patterns of Aa and Bb from overhead.
(Use a snap on eighth note rests.) Sing phrases with more difficult sol-fa marked
in score on overhead. Sing phrases on neutral vowel. Find phrases and mark form
in score. Echo words many different ways. Put words to melody. Teacher begins
canon at A after class sings A. Switch parts. Divide choir and perform 2-part
canon.
This piece would need 4-6 15-minute rehearsals to learn.
