An Outrage: SATB Choral Octavo
An Outrage Sheet Music Preview

An Outrage: SATB Choral Octavo

As performed by Nico Muhly

Item: 35-DS00362488
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$2.99
Description

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 29
SKU: 35-DS00362488

More about this title

About the Artist: Nico Muhly

Nico Muhly is a composer whose work spans opera, orchestral music, and choral writing with equal facility. His training at Columbia University and time as composer-in-residence with the New York Philharmonic positioned him as a major voice in contemporary classical music, known for his ability to blend accessibility with sophisticated harmonic language.

Muhly's choral works have become staples in university and professional choirs seeking contemporary repertoire that challenges without alienating singers. His ear for vocal writing and gift for text setting make his pieces rewarding to rehearse and perform.

Why we love this

Muhly's setting captures the visceral urgency of its text while remaining singable across four voices without sacrificing artistic depth. The piece demonstrates how contemporary compositional techniques can serve emotional directness rather than obscure it, making it a valuable addition to any choir programming contemporary work.

What to expect

The piece radiates urgency and conviction without resorting to aggression. Muhly's harmonic language feels modern and tonal simultaneously, creating an emotional atmosphere that is direct and immediate. There is an elegance to the orchestration of voices that prevents the intensity from becoming exhausting.

Who it's for

This work suits choral ensembles comfortable with contemporary music and committed to programming pieces that engage current artistic voices. University choirs, professional chamber choirs, and advanced high school programs will find the vocal range and harmonic language both manageable and genuinely artistic.

How to get the most out of it

  • Pay attention to how Muhly spaces the text across the voices; unison or near-unison moments carry particular weight and should land with clarity rather than blending into the harmonic texture.
  • Intonation demands precision in the contemporary harmonic language. Tune vertical sonorities by ear in rehearsal rather than relying on keyboard reference.
  • Balance the sopranos and tenors carefully in passages where they carry the melodic line against sustained notes in the lower voices; these moments should feel exposed.

How to use it

Pair this with other contemporary sacred or secular choral works to build a concert program that demonstrates your choir's range and sophistication. It works particularly well as a centerpiece for a concert exploring text and meaning in modern composition, or as a statement piece to close a program with conviction.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading contemporary harmonic language and chromatic voice leading
  • Sustaining intonation through extended harmonies without harmonic resolution
  • Balancing clarity of text with contemporary musical demands
  • Ensemble listening and vertical tuning in dissonant sonorities

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