All Of Us: SATB Choral Octavo

Johnson's text selection and harmonic language create immediate emotional resonance without requiring advanced vocal technique. The piece speaks to contemporary concerns while remaining musically engaging for singers at intermediate to advanced levels, making it a natural choice for concert programming that prioritizes both artistry and accessibility.

The piece has an immediate humanity to it. Lyrics about collective experience and shared identity give the singing a purposeful quality, even in intimate moments. The music avoids sentimentality while remaining deeply warm.

Intermediate to advanced SATB choirs seeking contemporary concert repertoire with genuine substance. This works equally well in festival settings and community choir programs where singers want meaningful material.

• Balance the homophonic sections carefully so text clarity takes precedence over blending; Johnson's writing depends on the audience understanding what you're singing about.
• Shape the phrases around natural speech patterns rather than musical bar lines. Listen to how the composer groups ideas and let breathing points fall where the text wants them.
• Pay attention to dynamic gradations in the accompaniment. Piano parts here are rarely purely supportive; they often suggest where the choral line should lead.

Consider pairing this with other contemporary secular works to create a thematic concert half focused on connection and community. It also anchors a diverse program by bringing singers and audience into direct engagement with its central ideas.

• Performing contemporary harmonic language with clear diction
• Shaping long phrases within a predominantly homophonic texture
• Interpreting dynamic and expressive markings that serve the text
• Balancing ensemble blend with text intelligibility