Make New Friends

As a part of our campaign to bring you fresh, usable settings of great old standards, we have chosen another favorite round. It is a simple one, but in its simplicity it opens up many possibilities for use in the classroom. This setting features ten repetitions of the four-bar song, in sets of three. The first time through each set of three is more heavily orchestrated than the other two, actually featuring a full statement of the tune with some inner counterpoint.

For this recording, we used two sets of lyrics, the original and one new one by Teresa Jennings. Using the first four bars as an intro, we perform the song three ways: as unison verses, as a two-part round, and then as a four-part round. Each version starts at bar 5, and the rounds finish during the interlude, or in the case of the last one, during the last four bars. The last four bars are also fully orchestrated, and end with a slight ritardando.

You may choose to perform it just this way, or to add new verse of your own. If you have Paul and Teresa's Big Round Book, originally published by Jenson Publications, you will find six verses there.

Lyrics

Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver and the other gold.
Silver shines and gold does, too.
Keep them both, they will shine for you.