All Is: SATB Choral Octavo

Intimate and reflective. This is music that asks listeners to sit with it, to follow the interweaving voices as they develop an idea across phrases that feel conversational rather than grandiose. There's clarity in the harmonic language without austerity.

High school and college choirs seeking a contemporary secular piece with genuine artistic substance. The 33-page score suggests moderate length and complexity, making it approachable for ensembles with some sight-reading facility but plenty of room for musical growth.

• Pay close attention to the SATB voice leading throughout. DiOrio's part-writing often contains independent melodic material that will blur if any voice gets swallowed in the mix.
• Mark dynamics and tempo shifts in advance during sectional rehearsals. What reads as natural phrasing on the page needs ensemble agreement to land cleanly in performance.
• Record a run-through early in rehearsal process. Hearing the piece back, even imperfectly, reveals balance issues and textural clarity problems that are hard to diagnose from within the ensemble.

Consider pairing this with other contemporary secular works in a concert dedicated to modern choral writing. Its reflective quality also works well as a closing piece on a mixed program, where it can provide genuine resolution after more energetic repertoire.

• Independent voice leading and melodic awareness in SATB texture
• Phrase shaping across longer musical lines
• Blend and balance within a four-part ensemble
• Musical communication of harmonic intent through careful intonation