Traditional songs S-Z

These songs have been collected by Vocal Union, Vocal Force and other leaders as part of the process of sharing our experience and repertoire. As in any aural tradition, songs get passed around, changing either deliberately or by accident.
If you know or have made new versions we would love to include them.
We will not include any song knowingly in copyright to a composer without their consent. If you find a song that is mis-named or you have new or conflicting information about it, please contact Jilly at jillyjarman@gmail.com

---

Sarana

Call and response song from Burkina Faso
score

---

Senwa Dedende

This short and simple piece can be harmonised, sung in a round, sung over riffs, played with instruments, have new words written to it. A very popular song for teachers from KS1 upwards.
mp3 | score

---

Senzenina

This is a South African Zulu song which means: 'What have we done?'
Beccy Owen
mp3 (Beccy Owen - parts) | mp3 (Hannah Reid)

---

Shalom Chaverim

Traditional Israeli folk song. Sung as a round. There are many different versions of this using combinations of Hebrew and English words.
score | mp3 - Coming Soon! | lyrics

---

Sing To The Rhythm

Wonderful song built around call and response. Taught to Sian Croose by Black Voices, a fantastic vocal group.
mp3

---

Summer is icoming in

Traditional English folk song. Can be sung as a round. There are lots of arrangements for choirs available as well. Also spelt Somer is Icomin In.
score | mp3

---

Take Me Home - Black Umfolosi

DBele song taught to Sian Crooze by Black Umfolosi, Zimbabwean Vocal Harmony, Drumming and Dance Group. Black Umfolosi has CDs with lots of fantastic songs available from: www.blackumfolosi.com/.
Black Umfolosi are available for workshops with young and older people in England, a popular choice being South African gumboot dancing.
mp3 | score

---

There's a Hole In My Bucket

A traditional English children's song thought to originate in the 1770's. It is a circular song - when you get to the end you arrive back at the beginning, with no resolution possible.
lyrics | score

---

Tongo

A traditional calling or echo song from The Solomon Islands, Polynesia. The song depicts people in different long boats communicating with each other over the water. Tongo means mangrove in Polynesian.
mp3 | notes | score

---

Today's the First of May

Traditional Swedish game, great for the playground. New words can be made up.
score

---

Tue, tue

Translation to English means: we are thankful for our Harvest. There are many versions and spellings of the words.
mp3
Here are a few variations found on the web.

---

Tula Mama

Harmonised excerpt from a harvest song sung by school children to Cumbrian teachers on an exchange visit to Uru, Tanzania. (Sung here by Bewcastle Community Choir)
mp3 | mp3 parts | score

---

Wairua o te puna

A Maori Waiata song from New Zealand about love, affection and togetherness.
score

---

We Shall Overcome

Traditional song. An anthem for protest and religious groups especially in US in 60's onwards. There are many different versions and verses. A popular campfire song.
score

---

Young Peter the Fiddler

A traditional Swedish folk song presented by Lindsay Hannon.
mp3

---

Sing Up

Sing Up, the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, produced by Youth Music with AMV-BBDO, Faber Music and The Sage Gateshead supported by Government.
Vocal Union is part-funded through Sing Up and is part of its national singing programme.