Fall concerts and programming are becoming increasingly popular, with many instrumental ensembles participating in school and community events throughout the season. It’s also a great choice for your school or community choir! There are several compelling reasons to consider organizing a fall concert. Halloween is an obvious one, and we have lots of spooky songs that are perfect for this holiday, which you can find in our “13 Spooky Songs for Your Choir at Halloween” video. But there are many other fantastic reasons to highlight fall. Other fall holidays include Diwali, Thanksgiving, and Dia de los Muertos, and we have excellent selections for these occasions too. Additionally, there are numerous songs about the changing seasons, falling leaves, windy days, and cooling temperatures that would be perfect for a fall-themed program. Whether you’re planning a single song for an event or a theme for an entire concert, we have plenty of exciting choices! Remember, this is just a small fraction of the entire Editors’ Choice library that our editors curate for you every year. Enjoy these great selections for fall!
Who Has Seen the Wind?
Bruce Tippette – Excelcia Music Publishing, LLC
A memorable rhythmic melody sets Christina Rossetti’s well-known text in this exciting concert work that will find a natural home at fall or winter concerts. Offering many teaching opportunities, choirs can practice agility, precision, and diction as well as longer legato phrases that are all well supported with the piano accompaniment. A great choice for singing with drama and character for developing choirs!
Starts at 1:14
Fall Leaves
Penny Rodriguez – Alfred Music Publishing
With charming lyrics penned by a seven-year-old student, this playful song captures the joy of autumn. A unison verse swirls into simple call and response and then flows into a bridge with accessible two-part harmony. A cheerful key change mimics the tossing of leaves into the air before tapering to a quiet ending.
Starts at 2:10
Autumn
Ola Gjeilo – Walton Music
Inspired by the tranquility of nature in Norway’s fall season, this choral work based on the composer’s solo piano piece by the same name is a peaceful meditation on the wonder of the earth’s changing seasons. Lush divisi a cappella harmonies with a rich bass line transport the listener to a serenely placid pastoral scene with falling leaves and the change of seasons. Stunning!
Starts at 2:56
The Broomstick Flew All Around
Mark Burrows – Heritage Music Press
Based on the old Appalachian folk tune The Green Grass Grew All Around, this hilarious Halloween adaptation will have your audience in stitches! A cumulative song, each verse incorporates a new element to the text such as witches, hats, cats, and rats each with an associated sound effect. You’ll want to check out the various accompaniment track options because this instrumentation is not to be missed!
Starts at 3:55
Something Told the Wild Geese
Douglas E. Wagner – Choristers Guild
Highly appropriate for fall and winter concerts, this elegantly simple setting of the well-known Rachel Field poem allows space for developing choirs to learn the notes easily and have plenty of time for exploring musical sensitivity. Nicely constructed melodic lines create a plaintive and haunting feel which is nicely enhanced by the beautiful piano accompaniment and optional cello obbligato.
Starts at 5:14
Spooky Scary Skeletons
Andrew Gold/arr. Roger Emerson – Hal Leonard Corporation
Catchy and quirky, this Halloween novelty is easy to learn and fun to sing. It’s a great choice for choirs of all ages to learn in just a few rehearsals. You’ll also want to check out the instrumental track, as it has a lot of sound effects that will enhance your performance during spooky season!
Starts at 6:13
Blow, Winds of Fall
Greg Gilpin – Heritage Music Press
Vivid imagery depicts the change of seasons in this gorgeous piece, painted with beauty and simplicity in both music and text. “Blow, blow, you winds of fall, push away the stifling air. Banish summer from this hall and hang your colors everywhere…” From its hushed opening, it builds to full choral sonorities, then tapers to an ending of quiet splendor.
Starts at 7:11
The Lights of Diwali
Lois Brownsey & Marti Lunn Lantz – Alfred Music Publishing
India’s annual festival of lights is celebrated in this original song that details various traditions associated with the celebration, including the food, fireworks, and colorful rangoli patterns made of sand. In Bollywood style, plenty of unison phrases and simple call and response make it a joy to learn and perform. A great way to learn about and represent the diversity of your community!
Starts at 8:10
A Respectable Bird
Suzy Johnson – Jocelyn Hagen Music
Here’s a lighthearted number inspired by one of America’s founding fathers, Ben Franklin, who was a big fan of the American turkey. Set in the style of a tango with a clarinet for color, this novelty extols the virtues of this corpulent, feathery friend. Fun and engaging at any time of year, but especially near Thanksgiving, your singers and audiences will gobble this one up!
Starts at 9:05
