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SPACE RACE

A song cycle celebrating the human journey into space

For the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing

words by Phil Cummings, music by Glyn Lehmann

2019 is the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.
To commemorate this event, this song cycle traces the big moments in the journey to conquer space.

Gagarin (Beyond Blue Sky) - in 1961 the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to leave Earth's atmosphere and orbit the planet.
Space Race (To Every Question) - in 1962 President Kennedy announced the goal to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
The Children of the World (July 1969) - the moon landing and its profound effect on the imaginations of children around the world.
Apollo 11 (Homecoming) - the goal had been achieved, now for the tense drama of returning the three astronauts home safely.

SPACE RACE - for 2 part Treble Choir

SSA, SAB and SATB versions available from glynlehmann.com

1. Gagarin

The song ebbs and flows as the story of Yuri Gagarin's life unfolds; from humble beginnings to his historic journey into space.

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2. Space Race

Inspired by 60s pop groups like The Byrds and The 5th Dimension, this song brings to life JFK's call to reach the moon.

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3. The Children of the World

Captures the sense of wonder and excitement children felt as they watched Armstrong walk on the moon in 1969. Gentle verses and a lively, upbeat chorus.

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4. Apollo 11

Feel the tension as the Apollo 11 astronauts leave the moon's surface for the risky journey back home to Earth - ultimately returning as heroes.

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More information
Purchase options
Script sample

Tab 1

The songs are provided here, both in unison and 2 parts (SA), apart from Gagarin which is 2 parts only.
Suitable for ages 8 and older.
The song cycle can be performed successfully without Gagarin (Beyond Blue Sky) if required.
As an extra performance feature, each song is proceeded by a 'newsreader' - a spoken script which sets the scene for the events detailed in the song. This is optional.
The backing track of Space Race (To Every Question) includes original audio from President Kennedy's speech announcing the quest to land on the moon by the end of the 1960s.

SSA, SAB and SATB versions available from glynlehmann.com

Tab 2

The SPACE RACE song cycle is available for immediate download in the following ways.

SONG PACKS
This is a good option if you don't require a score for each of your singers. The Song Pack includes everything you need to learn and perform the song(s) whether you read music or not.

The Individual pack allows the purchaser to add the files to their personal devices, burn the audio tracks to a CD and print one copy of the score.
The School Licence permits a single school to upload the files to a password protected server for access by staff and students and to print 3 copies of the score.

Song packs are available for the complete song cycle or for single songs.

SCORES ONLY
For choirs who require a piano/vocal score for each singer. Copyright law requires that scores be purchased based on the number of singers. Please support our work by respecting this arrangement.

Through an arrangement with APRA/AMCOS Australian and New Zealand schools only may make 5 copies of each score purchased.

Tab 3

This script is optional for performances, but helps provide the audience with an historical context for each song.

Newsreader
Good evening, welcome to the bulletin on this day April 12, 1961. In breaking news, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin has become the first human to orbit the earth. Gagarin successfully completed a 108-minute orbital flight in in his spacecraft, Vostok 1.

Song 1: Gagarin (Beyond the Blue)

Newsreader
This is the news; September 12, 1962. In a rousing speech today at Rice University President John F Kennedy outlined a plan to put a man on the moon. Announcing a significant increase in funding for space exploration the president made it clear that the decade ahead would prove to be one of the most challenging and exciting in the history of mankind.

Song 2: Space Race (To Every Question)*

Newsreader
I am happy to be reporting to you on this day; a day of great human achievement. We have followed this journey every step of the way and I can now tell you that man is on the moon! The Eagle has landed!

Song 3: The Children of the World (July 1969)

Newsreader
Welcome to the bulletin and the news of an Apollo 11 homecoming. Our hearts were in our mouths, the world stood still; waiting, anxiously waiting, to see if the ‘men from the moon’ were going to make it home safely. There was always the danger that the command module might hit our atmosphere at the wrong angle, burn up and disintegrate. Those few minutes, when the command module re-entered the atmosphere and the radios fell silent, were the most anxious moments this newsreader has ever experienced…

Song 4: Apollo 11 (Homecoming)

* This song contains audio of Kennedy’s Space Race speech September 12, 1962 speaking at Rice University – text, audio and video links are at: https://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard.” JFK, 1962

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SPACE RACE Pack - all 4 songs	Download includes: vocal recordings (unison & 2 parts) fully orchestrated backing tracks piano only backing tracks piano/vocal scores (unison & 2 parts) lyrics newsreader script and audio note: Gagarin available in 2 parts only.
step 1. add song pack to cart The purchaser may place the contents of the download on their personal computer/mp3 player, make one CD and to print one copy of the score.	$24.95 AUD
step 2. (if required) add School Licence Grants a licence to a single school to place the contents of the download on their server (password protected) and to print 3 copies of the piano/vocal scores.	$70 AUD

Single Song Packs Each song pack includes: vocal recording (unison & 2 parts) fully orchestrated backing track piano only backing track piano/vocal score (unison & 2 parts) lyrics newsreader script and audio	step 1. add song pack(s) The purchaser may place the contents of the download on their personal computer/mp3 player, make one CD and to print one copy of the score.	step 2. (if required) add School Licence Grants a licence to a single school to place the contents of the download on their server (password protected) and to print 3 copies of the piano/vocal score.
Song 1: Gagarin (Beyond Blue Sky) This song available in 2 parts only.	$8.95 AUD	$20.00 AUD
Song 2: Space Race (To Every Question)	$8.95 AUD	$20.00 AUD
Song 3: The Children of the World (July 1969)	$8.95 AUD	$20.00 AUD
Song 4: Apollo 11 (Homecoming)	$8.95 AUD	$20.00 AUD

SCORES ONLY Download the piano/vocal scores in both unison and 2 parts (SA). Gagarin 2 parts only.	Please adjust the number of scores required in the cart. Copyright law requires that scores be purchased based on the number of singers. Please support my work by respecting this requirement. Note: through an arrangement with APRA/AMCOS schools from Australia and New Zealand only may make 5 copies of each score purchased.
COMPLETE (all 4 songs)	$10.00 AUD
Song 1: Gagarin (Beyond Blue Sky)	$3.00 AUD
Song 2: Space Race (To Every Question)	$3.00 AUD
Song 3: The Children of the World (July 1969)	$3.00 AUD
Song 4: Apollo 11 (Homecoming)	$3.00 AUD

The Songs

1. Gagarin (Beyond Blue Sky)

2. Space Race (To Every Question)

3. The Children of the World (July 1969)

4. Apollo 11 (Homecoming)

The Writers

Phil Cummings is an award winning author of over seventy books for children.
His career has spanned thirty years and his work has been published in Australia, New Zealand, U.S, Japan, China, Korea, Canada, U.K. and throughout Europe.
His most recent titles include:

BOY illustrated by Shane Devries, Scholastic Press, short listed for the 2018 CBCA Book Of The Year: Early Childhood. Winner of the 2017 Children’s Peace Award.
FEATHERS illustrated by Phil Lesnie, Scholastic Press. 2017
Wilbur, Grace and Joe illustrated by Amanda Graham, Little Book Press. 2017
ANZAC Biscuits illustrated by Owen Swan, Scholastic Press. CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Notable Book 2014
Ride, Ricardo, Ride! Illustrated by Shane Devries, Omnibus Scholastic CBCA Honour Book 2016
Bridie’s Boots illustrated by Sara Acton, Working Title Press CBCA Notable Book 2015

www.philcummings.com

Glyn Lehmann's diverse career as a professional musician has involved performance, composition, songwriting, arranging and production.

Composing credits include the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (TV and radio), major theatre companies and children’s music festivals. His song I Am The Earth has over 2 million views on YouTube and has been performed worldwide.

In 2012 Glyn launched the SongLibrary (songlibrary.net) - an online resource for teachers of songs for children’s choirs and the classroom.
glynlehmann.com

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