Shelter Song (PERUSAL SCORE) by Amy Gordon

Dedicated to all our furry friends who bring us so much love, laughter, & joy

Shelter Song

by the

Instrumentation: Duration: SA Choir & Piano 4 Minutes

Commissioned

Ramona Convent Secondary School Choirs, directed by Ruth Ballenger Music

Shelter Song, commissioned by the Ramona Convent Secondary School Choirs, directed by Ruth Ballenger, sets the charming text by Libby Weber about the joy of adop?ng a rescue animal. The text playfully explores the different decisions required when adop?ng a pet, such as choosing which animal to adopt (the Sopranos want to adopt a Cat, while the Altos prefer a Dog) and what to name them! The poem also features a few moments of overlapping texts, which create funny new phrases between the Soprano and Alto lyrics ("I want them all" at mm. 34-35 and "OMG!" at mm. 39-45).

The music has historical influences reminiscent of J.S. Bach's keyboard stylings, Baroque arias, and opera-like recita?ves for drama?c and comedic effect. There is also a bit of G. Rossini's famous Due$o Buffo di due Ga- (Comic Duet for Two Cats) and the music of comedian Peter Schickele's fic?onal Baroque composer, P.D.Q Bach.

There is a customizable NAMES sec?on (Rehearsal Le\er E) where directors and choirs may choose to replace any of the names (except the last name of each line, in order to maintain the rhymes) with pet names meaningful to them or the community.

The hope of this piece is to foster awareness of the importance of adop?ng rescue pets and trea?ng our furry friends with the love they deserve. It would be wonderful to encourage dona?ons to a local animal shelter or animal-oriented charity at any concert or event featuring this piece.

This piece is suitable for any Treble Choir and would fit well on a concert about animals or nature.

ABOUT THE POET: Libby Weber is a San Diego-based singer and writer. Raised in a log cabin in rural Illinois, she earned a theatre degree from Northwestern University where she also studied voice and le\ered in fencing. Her published works include short fic?on, lyrics, arts blogging, science wri?ng, and a year-long sonnet cycle. She maintains an ac?ve performance calendar with a focus on sacred and contemporary choral repertoire. She and her spouse are agreeably tolerated by two giant dachshunds.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER: Amy Gordon is an ac?ve composer, arranger, songwriter, and vocalist based in Los Angeles, CA. As a choral composer, she has worked with and been commissioned by numerous choirs, including being the composer-in-residence for Nova Vocal Ensemble. She has also scored numerous films and webcasts. She has a BA in Composi?on from Loyola Marymount University and an MM in Composi?on from California State University, Long Beach. She lives close to the beach with her husband and their two rescue ki\y siblings Beau and Crowley.

It’s &me for me to find, to get, And then bring home the perfect pet! I’ve researched how adop&on varies— Rescues, shelters, sanctuaries— Charted chores, obtained supplies, A list of names I must revise. At last it’s &me for me to get

ALTO A dog—

SOPRANO A cat—

Unison —to be my perfect pet!

ALTO

My dog will be my closest friend Who curls up by my side Who fetches, wags, and barks to send Away each threat outside I want [them all] to boop each furry snoot. Oh [em] gee. These pets are all so cute!

SOPRANO

How I long for a kiJy! When it’s just ourselves They will cuddle and knead with their paws, And if I’m not careful with tables and shelves, They will push my things off just because. I will make [ I want] them all different places to sit in, Perhaps [oh] Em- [gee] pty boxes that they’ll try to fit in.

Text

Oh no! My list of names was made Before my preference was swayed! I’ve got to choose the perfect op&on Finalize my pet adop&on, Say goodbye to those leU here, Maybe I can volunteer?

So now I’ve got to make a game Of finding them the perfect name.

NAMES*

Boba, Brindle, Bernie, Beau Milo, Maggie, Muncy, Mo Buddy, Bingley, Bingo, Belle Sharpie or Aziraphale GioGio, Georgie, or Girard Chester, Hugh, or Hildegard Crowley, Cathy, Clara, Chunk Princess, Penny, Pink or Punk

I have my pet and name, and now I’ve learned to translate each meow, I know their whines, I know their needs, On walks I know their different speeds. I photograph each blep and mlem And tell them how I treasure them. Each day with them is precious, true. I’ll never know who rescued who.

*Directors and choirs may choose to replace any of the Pet names (except the last name of each line, shown in bold, in order to maintain the rhyme scheme) with pet names meaningful to them.

Shelter Song

Commissioned by the Ramona Convent Secondary School Choirs, directed by Ruth Ballenger Dedicated

Music by Amy Gordon

Text by Libby Weber

a list of names I

must re vise.

At last it's time for

1st time: Altos

2nd time: Sopranos

3rd time: Together

Slower, like an Aria q = 104

full of longing

This page has been left intentionally blank for perusal purposes.

To purchase the full score, please visit: www.AmyGordonMusic.com/store

*Feel free to split up pet names or phrases by soloist or section as desired. E

f brainstorming names with excitement!

& # #

make funny MLEM faces!

serious and sentimental