Home Sweet Home

It is rare that a song stay alive and well-known around the world for almost 200 years, but that is the case with this old gem. With music composed by Englishman Sir Henry Bishop and lyrics adapted from American actor and dramatist John Howard Payne, the tune has survived from generation to generation because its sentiment speaks to everyone: Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

Our setting is fairly simple, with the one best-known verse stated in unison. Our accompaniment is richly scored for full orchestra, though a mostly playable piano part is included in case you want to do it without recorded accompaniment. (You will need to adapt in a few places if you do this.) Even so, we highly recommend you try it with the recording.

For best success, take care with the phrasing and dynamics. It is an ideal tune to teach these nuances. Perhaps the best place to work with them is the section between measures 21 and 29. Start 21 a bit quieter than marked, sing 21 and 22 as a phrase, the next three notes as another, starting a nice crescendo in bar 23. By the pick-up to 25, you should have a solid forte, and should sustain it through bar 28. Perform a gentle decrescendo on the word home, then start the next phrase as mezzo-forte or perhaps even mezzo-piano. Stay gentle to the end, and follow the ritardando starting on the next to the last measure.