Go Tell It!

Go Tell It! is a free treatment of the African American plantation song Go Tell It on the Mountain, based on the version published by Thomas Fenner in Religious Folk Songs of the Negro (1909). It starts with a build up of whispered, then spoken, then shouted phrases, followed by a strong introduction of the tune by a group of soli. After that, mix and match freely from the various harmonisations given. For example: first have upper voices sing the tune at letter B, while lower voices finish the spoken intro; then have lower voices sing B while upper voices sing harmonies from the upper stave of C; then have altos return to B while lower voices sing harmonies from the lower stave of C and sopranos take either harmony from the upper stave; then have lower voices return to B while upper voices return to A; then go twice more through on a ‘free for all’ basis (everyone picks their own line). Optionally, add a final unison demo of B to bring in the audience, then finish with another free-for-all. Add hand claps / instruments ad lib.

The audio realisation illustrates a few possible combinations of voices and does not include any spoken word effects.