Being Who You Are

A lighthearted romp affirming individual differences (with a touch of Shakespeare)

Poet/Lyricist:

Elizabeth Alexander

Commissioned by Waunakee Middle School

Winner of the KidSing Composer's Competition

Honorable Mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest

A lively affirmation of individual differences, this song includes such unlikely compadres as the Ugly Duckling, Rudolph the Reindeer, Ruby Bridges, Susan B. Anthony, and Shakespeare!

The chorus of this song includes brief cameo appearances by a number of small percussion instruments. The score suggests jingle bells, slide whistle, duck call, ratchet, claves and guiro, but creative performers may substitute other instruments they have around - or wish to create!

Item	Instrumentation/Voicing	Duration	Level	Audio	Peruse	Delivery Method (Print vs. Digital)	Price	Quantity
SEA-003-01	SA, piano, miscellaneous percussion - Choral Score	2'	ME	https://www.seafarerpress.com/sites/seafarerpress.advantagelabs.com/files/samples/being_who_you_are.mp3		Sheet Music	$2.25	Quantity
SEA-003-01DEL	SA, piano, miscellaneous percussion - Choral Score	2'	ME	https://www.seafarerpress.com/sites/seafarerpress.advantagelabs.com/files/samples/being_who_you_are.mp3		Licensed PDF	$2.25	Quantity

Being Who You Are

Lyrics by Elizabeth Alexander, with students at Waunakee Elementary School

Rudolph the reindeer couldn’t get respect
‘Cause his nose was different from the rest.
The ugly duckling had a scrawny neck
So the others drove him from the nest.
These two, to name a few, did what they had to do.
Like you, this they knew: “To thine own self be true!”
Rudolph was a great phenomenon,
Soon that duckling turned into a swan,
You'll do fine if you just keep on being who you are.

Susan B. Anthony held aloft her sign
Even though folks said she was a fool.
And even hecklers couldn’t undermine
Ruby Bridges marching into school.
These two, to name a few, did what they had to do.
Like you, this they knew: “To thine own self be true.”
Susan called on women to arise,
Ruby’s courage opened many eyes,
Speak your truth! Don’t apologize for being who you are.

So if you wear glasses on your nose,
If you’re bald or have eleven toes,
Be the best “you” that you can be,
Tell your story with honesty,
And you’ll shine ever brilliantly, being who you are.

Composer's Note:

I composed Being Who You Are with students from Waunakee Elementary School. They came up with the idea that the different percussion instruments were like individual people, a metaphor which I still find moving.

Program Notes / Performance Notes:

Program Notes - Being Who You Are.pdf

Performers:

Premiere: Entire student body of Waunakee Elementary School / Kathy Bartling (Waunakee, WI)
Angelica Cantanti Youth Choir "Cantabile Choir" / Ann Schrooten (Bloomington, MN)
Boston Children's Chorus / Jason Holmes. Wang Theater (Boston, MA)
Children's Choir of First Unitarian Universalist Church / Dema Solberg (Houston, TX)
Children's choir of Grace Episcopal Church / Ann Matlack (Madison, NJ)
Heather Hottman. KidsSing Concert, The Rose Theater (Omaha, NE)
Rachel Long (Madison, WI)
Sartell Middle School Choir / Leah Mockenhaupt (Sartell, MN)
The OK Chorale, Unitarian Universalist Church of Midland / Sonja K. Millichamp (Midland, MI)
Treble Choir Repertoire Workshop / Andrew Ellingsen. Conference of the Organization of American Kodály Educators (St. Paul, MN)
Westridge School Elementary Choir / Elizabeth Hangar (Pasadena, CA)
Children's Choir of Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church / Dave Simmons (Overland Park, KS)
Choir of Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church / Rachel Long (Madison, WI)
Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration / Jane K Hulting (Philadelphia, PA)
Youth Choir of Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua / Jed Holland (Nashua, NH)

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Basic Genres:

Choral

Choral Genres:

Children & Youth

Themes:

Diversity

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Being Who You Are