And So We Sing: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Hayes has engineered this piece to function as genuine repertoire rather than filler. The combination of dramatic architecture, accessible 2-part writing, and a virtuosic piano part means your singers stay engaged while the accompanist gets something genuinely musical to execute. Whether it opens your concert or closes it, the piece carries enough melodic and harmonic weight to anchor a program.

Grand and celebratory, with real dramatic sweep. The piece carries a sense of occasion, whether performed as a festival feature or concert milestone. Hayes's harmonic language feels contemporary but rooted, and the piano writing elevates the whole sound into something concert-hall ready.

Choirs with solid fundamentals in 2-part mixed or treble voicing who want repertoire that feels substantial. This works for middle school through adult ensembles seeking something concert-worthy without excessive technical demands.

• Balance the 2-part voices so neither swallows the other. Hayes's harmonies reward blend, so address intonation in thirds and sixths early.
• Let the piano part breathe independently. The accompaniment is written with compositional substance, not mere support; encourage your accompanist to shape it as a partner rather than a shadow.
• Attend to the dramatic architecture. Piece descriptions note this unfolds as form; find the climactic moments and build toward them rather than singing at a uniform dynamic.

Program this as your concert opener or closer. The piece is designed specifically to anchor a program, so position it where it will make the strongest impression. Its versatility (noted for festivals, contests, graduations, and combined choir events) makes it equally at home launching a concert or providing a powerful final statement.

• Balanced blend and intonation in 2-part voicing
• Dramatic phrasing and form awareness
• Confidence performing with a substantial, independent piano part
• Concert-level presentation and presence