Es Otoño

"Es Otoño" is a pretty little unison waltz that is part English, part Spanish (Spanglish) and that also puts your bell choir in the spotlight. Traditional Mariachi-influenced style with guitars, acoustic bass, piano, accordion, and violins sets the tone for a relaxing stroll into autumn. Dynamically speaking, you're at a gentle mezzo forte for the whole song.

Vocals lead the way on verse one. Though technically a waltz, you'll want to have your kids really lean into beat one of each measure so the feel is in one. Not that you would do this in school, but this would be a perfect groove to rollerblade or ice skate – pushing off your back foot at each downbeat. Can you imagine it?

There is a bit of Spanish to work through. We have a pronunciation guide on our web site to help but if you have Spanish speaking members in your choir, let them teach!

Bring out the bells in bar 38 to respond to the vocals. Then at the repeat, bells become the featured players. They have the whole verse. When the chorus comes back around, you get both vocals and bells. There is enough space between them that your singers can easily handle both. Bells finish out the song. Since the bells are optional, if you don't have them you could substitute other instruments, such as keyboards or mallets, even Boomwhackers®. Or you could add some easy movement reminiscent of a waltz until the chorus.

You will find the pronunciation guide on our web site, as well as an accompaniment version that has no bell guide, and a PDF of the bells part that you can print out as needed.