Silent Huntress (a three part round)
©1992 Steve Schuch / Night Heron Music (ASCAP).

In ancient times the moon was called Artemis, the Huntress. It is still by moonlight that many owls do their nocturnal hunting. Special tufts on their wing feathers make their flight as silent as the passage of Artemis herself. This song lends itself to an owl walk or any night hike, as well as occasions when a calming piece is in order.

Song tracks: Trees of Life | Turn the World Around | The Forest is a Wonderful Place | If I Had Wings | Sap Time | Barges | Silent Huntress | Ibis the Whale | Two Different Worlds | The Animal Song | The Garden Round | Where Will We Go | The Little Prince | Zeno-ba-ba-da | Giving Tree | Activity Guide Home

 

 

 


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Silent Huntress taking flight
Soft the shadows, soft the light
Passing silently through the night


Additional “Winter Solstice” lyrics by Chris Harmon, used by permission

Days grow shorter, winter’s here
Light the candles, draw friends near
Celebrate the season with cheer


Suggested Activity

Owls Up Close
There are many ways to get to know owls. One is to spend time listening to them in the woods at night. Other possibilities include field trips to a local nature center, or asking a wildlife rehabilitator who works with injured owls to visit your classroom.

Just as pirates used to “muffle” their oars with cloth so no one could hear them approaching, owls have something similar on their flight feathers. Ask the nature center if they can show your class some of those tufted flight feathers. They might also have recordings with different owl calls. See if you can learn to recognize the most common ones in your area.

Suggestions for Teaching Rounds
Sing the whole song through at least once or twice to convey the overall shape of the round, then teach it phrase by phrase. The next step is singing the whole song through in unison. On the first day, this may be enough for younger children. When you’re ready to try it in parts, start with two parts before adding more. Sign language or motions can help keep the different parts together rhythmically. They also add another level of fun or beauty to many songs, especially rounds and a capella chants.

See additional notes for “If I Had Wings” and “Where Will We Go.

If you are interested in Steve Schuch’s workshop on rounds, contact him about Roots of Rhythm & Harmony and other Workshops.

 

Night Heron Music • 72 Meeting Hill Road, Hillsborough, NH 03244 • USA
• ph (603) 464-4321 •
e-mail info@nightheron.com

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