• Text Source: Shaker, South Union and Pleasant Hill
• Tune Source: Shaker
• Worship Use: General /Praise/Choir Dedication
• Vocal Part(s):  Unison, with opt. 2nd part (descant)                    
• Vocal Range: Pt. I, d-g’; Pt. II (descant), d-e’
• Key: D minor > A major                               
• Meter: 6/8
• Accompanying Instrument(s): Piano (or harp)

Target Age Group: Grades 3-6

Description: Play Your Harps, Children of Zion is a majestic, modal anthem in a slow 6/8, ideal for an inspiring moment in worship or a concert. This anthem provides an opportunity to work on long lines with constan melodic motion.

Anthem Warm-Ups

• bars 9-12: singing ascending natural minor scale and descending thirds and seconds on “loo” for pitch awareness
• random phrases: staccato singing of parts for pitch accuracy

Teaching Points

• Rhythm/Meter: Sustaining a dance-like momentum in slow 6/8 time
• Vocal Production: Sustaining a lovely unified tone
• Musical Understanding: Performing 4-bar melodic/rhythmic phrases; singing long lines; shaping phrases; dynamics
• Intervallic Tuning: Tuning harmonic intervals between the two parts
• Music History: Learning about early Shaker tunes and texts
• Music History/Style Exploration: Discussing imagery in Shaker texts