Viva la musica
Round for Singing
Viva la musica is a very old round for singing.
Find it here for treble and bass voices, for guitar, and with AlphaNotes (notes with letter names inside the heads) for voice students who don't read notes well!
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
This singing round has a nice range; just an octave. In both the keys of F and G, the notes are easily reached by most groups.
The only real musical difficulty your singers are likely to encounter is the down-turn of the melody at the end of the first phrase; it is a bit unexpected, and the jump to the following interval feels awkward at first.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
A case could be made for additional fast-changing chords, however, I wanted to keep it simple!
The version below, with three staves, lets singers see where the other parts are when they enter.
Additionally, this arrangement is in the key of D, for singers using the bass clef (staves 2 and 3), and for tenors or altos who are accustomed to singing with the treble clef (staff 1).
This arrangement is also offered in the key of F.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Here is the same arrangement, in the key of F, all for treble singers or parts.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
What is the translation of "viva la musica?"
"MUSIC LIVES!" or possibly, "Long live music!", as in "Vive le France! - Long live France!"
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
I am eager to share this easy round with my guitar students; I think we will try finger-picking it classical style.
Michael Praetorius, to whom the "Viva la musica" song is attributed, lived a very long time ago; probably 1571 - 1621.
Though he composed primarily for the Lutheran church, his most familiar work to most people may be a compendium of delightful "dances".
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
He collected and published more than three hundred of these instrumental dances and called them "Terpsichore." (Pronounced "terp-SIK-uh-ree" - a very fun name to say.)
Terpsichore, a goddess, was one of the nine muses; her specialty was dancing!
The links for the vocal round PDFs:
Download single line arrangement in F
Download single line version in G
The links for the 3-stave versions:
Download 3-stave arrangement for men's voices in D
Download arrangement of Viva la musica for low voices in F
Download treble voice arrangement with 3 staves in F
Download version with 3 staves, treble clef, in G
The link for the guitar tabs version:
Download guitar arrangement with tablature
The link for the lettered-notes arrangement:
Download simplified arrangement with letters in the note-heads
More Rounds at Music-for-Music-Teachers.com
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The famous French melody.
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Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
A happy song, easy to learn!
A very pretty little tune with nice major harmonies. A quick study!
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A pretty song with lovely lyrics
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Viva la musica
A little different - there is a bit of dissonance to learn to sing through. A joyful melody!
A pretty little round with two parts and two verses, about white coral bells flowers along a garden path.
A street-seller's cry from England.
Sylvain:
I found great ideas for my guitar unit on your site, as I didn't know where to begin. Thanks to you I will survive my next 6 weeks.
I also teach choir to middle school, and I love your little morning warmups. Looking forward to more of that in the future. Keep up the great work, it is very inspirational for us beginner teachers.
MusicGardenStudios:
This is an absolutely wonderful site!
As a voice and piano teacher looking for enrichment material for beginners, I have found your collections to be comprehensive and purposeful. It is clear that you are a wonderful musician and educator. Thank you!
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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