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10 This little light of mine

R ESO U RCES P CD1 track 10 (performance); CD2 track 12 (backing)

Information Ideas
This well-known American spiritual is a joyful expression 1
Ask a soloist to sing This little light of mine, or a lyric
of belief in oneself. During the 1950s and 60s it became they have created, and have the group answer with Im
known throughout the US as a Civil Rights anthem. Here, gonna let it shine.
we set it in a choral gospel style. You can sing this song in 1
If you have a confident soloist, they could ad lib. on the
unison, parts, or a mixture of both, and it is ideal for a long notes. e.g.:
concert performance or worship service. Your singers will
pick this up quickly, so focus on creating a big open sound
and a confident performance.
V b44 e e e f
Im gon-na let it shine, (glo - ry, hal-le - lu-jah!)
Starting 1
Along with offbeat clicks or claps, try adding some
1
Good posture is essential in creating the big sound movement: standing with feet together, step to the right
needed for this piece, so start with some physical warm with your right foot on beat 1, and on beat 3 step to the
ups. Use the big face, little face exercise (p. x) to right with your left foot, bringing your feet together. In
energize the face. Open eyes wide and rub temples, the next bar, step to the left with your left foot on beat
cheeks, nose, and all around the eyes. 1, and on beat 3 step to the left with your right foot,
1
Now tilt your head forward; imagine that the top of bringing your feet together. Start this move in bar 2 and
your head is a pencil, and on top of that rests a piece of repeat until the tempo change in bar 42. This is known
paper. Draw figure of eights on to the paper, side to side, as a step-touch or step-together and is used quite
to loosen the neck. Finally, use other stretches (see p. x, frequently in popular choral styles.
Posture) to prepare the rest of the body for singing.
1
Warm up over the range of this piece by singing the Listen out
following with a bright, full, energized tone. 1
Take care over the s at the end of This: concentrate on
F Bb C7sus
the vowel.
V b44 1
If the long notes start to lose energy and focus, try
incorporating a slight crescendo.
nay nay nay nay nay nay nay nay

F b b b /E D sus D 7 Performing
Vb q bbbbbb etc. 1
Perhaps start with a free-tempo unaccompanied verse
before beginning the written arrangement.
nay 1
You might try the first verse in unison and add parts for
1
a
Establish a tempo of = 152 and have the group click on
beats 2 and 4. Sing this drum-kit exercise together to 1
the remaining verses.
This song is all about pride in ones self no matter what.
internalize the groove; swing the quavers! Make sure your singers posture and faces convey this!

V 44 . a a a a a .
bm dit b dm dit

Teaching and rehearsing


1
Singing unaccompanied, use call and response to teach
the song phrase by phrase, starting with the melody.
Add some claps or clicks on beats 2 and 4, and smile!
1
If you are singing the three-part arrangement, move on
to Parts 2 and 3 and teach them in the same way.
1
For a more authentic sound, keep the sound bright and
full but try singing with a slightly nasal tone.

10. This little light of mine 43


10 This little light of mine Spiritual
arr. Steve Milloy
Gospel shuffle (
G7
h ii
F/C
= ) = 152
D7 Gm7 C7 F b
B 7 F7

V b C q =e . e f # . e -. be . e b t b . =b . t f b> == >
Piano mf >
{ B b C - =- r r r r - =- >. b> =>
6
S.
A.
V b . mf e e e e . . r

f f f f
1. This lit-tle light of mine, Im gon-na let it shine.
2. Ev - ry - where I go, Im gon-na let it shine.

f f f .
Bar.
B b .
mf f r
F
>. . b B 7/C F C9sus F
b . C9sus F F7

Vb t e t e t e t e
b = .. f .
t e t e t
B
{b . . r r r r r r #
>
10
V b e b e e e .. r
f f f f
This lit-tle light of mine, Im gon-na let it shine.
Ev - ry - where I go, Im gon-na let it shine.

B b f f f . r
 f
b
B F9sus b B b F9sus B F

V b >. t b e t e t b e t e t e t f bb> == >


Oxford University Press 2008

{ B b >. r r r r r r b =
b > = >
44 10. This little light of mine This page may be photocopied
14
V b e e e e r e e
f f f f
This lit-tle light of mine, Im gon-na let it
f f
shine. Let it shine,
Ev - ry - where I go, Im gon-na let it shine. Let it shine,
B
f f r f f
b f f
F
>
.
bB 7/C F b B maj6 b #
F/C A7( 9)/C Dm G9

V b t be t =e t e t e . e . e t =e
B
{ b >. r r = r # r =
18 1 2
V b r e e r e e p . p #
f flet it shine,
f f let it shine!
let it shine, let it shine!

B p . p #
b r f f rf f 1 2
F/C #
D7( 9) Gm7 C7 b
F7 B 7 F7 > > F7 D7sus

bV e r e #/ b e b =b f > = > . =b r
t t t t b = = #
b . >. .
>
B
{ b . #e . e r >. bb > == > . >. r > > #
22
V # f e e .. r
f f
Je - sus gave it to me, Im gon-na let it shine.

B# f .
 f f r
G7
>. t e t C7/D G D9sus G D9sus G G7
# = e t e
V b = .. f .t e t e t e t =
.
f
Oxford University Press 2008

{ B# >. r r r r r r #
This page may be photocopied 10. This little light of mine 45
26
V # = e e . r
f f
Je - sus gave it to me, Im gon-na let it shine.

B# f . r
 f
C G9sus C G9sus C G
# >. t e t e t = e t e t t > #>
=
V = e f = #
{ B# >. r r r r r r == > ##>
30
V # e e
f f
Je - sus gave it to me, Im gon-na let it shine.

B# f
 f
>. G C7/D G Cmaj6 G/D b #
B7( 9)/D Em

#
V t e t e t e t e . f . e
b =
{ B# >. r r # r # r
33
V # r e fe r e e r e e
f
Let it shine,
f f let it
f f
shine, let it shine.

B# f f f
 r f r f r f
A9 G/D # E7( 9) Am7 D7 Em

V # t #e t e r t e #/
b
Oxford University Press 2008

{ B# # . #e . e # r b
46 10. This little light of mine This page may be photocopied
37
V # q e r e e r e e
e
f f
Let it
f f
shine,
f f let it shine, let it shine.

B# q
f
f f
f
 r f r f
# A7 >
# G/D E7( 9) Am7 D7 Em
=
V # .. f q t e r b t e #/ e #/ .
{ B# = # . #e . e # r b
straight 8ths/quavers
41 slow down to the end
V # q e e .. r . . r
f
Let it
f
shine, let it shine,
f f . # .
B# q r r
A7 G/D Em A7

V # # .. e t e b = ## #/ = # # .. =#
{ B# = # # = . e
45
V # F p
let it shine!

B# = F p
 G
D13 C/G
F F ^ t r q
V # =
Oxford University Press 2008

F F f^
B#
{ e t r q

This page may be photocopied 10. This little light of mine 47

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