Oh Shenandoah (SAT choir and piano)

This ever-popular American folksong probably has its origins among the French Canadians who traded with Native Americans around the Great Lakes during the sixteenth century. Paddling their canoes along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers the traders were well-known for their singing. However, as most of the traders were illiterate, the songs were never written down and went through numerous changes over the years and centuries. Shenandoah became one of the most popular capstan shanties, a slow song which set a manageable pace for the crew in a heavy and lengthy task. Most versions of the song have a similar couplet at the end of each verse. In some transcriptions, the melody is written out entirely in 4/4 time; others use triple time and some arrangements use a mixture of both. In this version, the lyrics have been selected from different versions of the song. This SAT arrangement for choir and piano is intended for high school, college or amateur choir and is ideal if the number of male voices is limited. The song is set in E flat major and modulates into F major. There is only one brief divisi passage (3 measure) of sustained notes in the soprano part. The top soprano note is F5 on the top line of the treble staff and the lowest note is E on the lowest line of the staff. The top alto note is B (mid-staff) (B4) and the lowest note is B 3. The top tenor note is D4 (middle of treble staff) and the lowest note (only twice) is the low B flat (with an optional B flat an octave higher). With a running time of 04:00 this piece is enjoyable to sing and hear. It would make a useful addition to your choir's repertoire.