And So We Sing: TTBB Choral Octavo

Hayes crafts choral writing that commands attention without sacrificing accessibility. The virtuosic piano part elevates the ensemble's sound while the dramatic arc and full harmonic palette give singers something genuinely substantial to sink their voices into. This is the kind of piece that energizes both performers and audience, making it ideal for programming moments where you want real impact.

A celebration that unfolds with purpose and grandeur. The dramatic form keeps momentum alive across twelve pages, and the interplay between voices and piano creates a sense of occasion that feels both intimate and expansive.

TTBB choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who want contemporary repertoire with substance and flair. This works equally well for high school men's choirs, college groups, and community ensembles seeking a concert showpiece with real musical meat.

• Balance the choir's entrance against the piano accompaniment so the voices remain the focal point even when the keyboard part is dense.
• Work the dramatic form in sections; identify the structural turning points and rehearse those transitions until they feel inevitable rather than abrupt.
• Attend to the TTBB voicing and make sure your lower voices lock in rhythmically, since the piece's power depends on that foundation holding firm.

Anchor your concert with this as an opener or closer depending on your repertoire arc. It also shines as a standalone feature for festivals, as a graduation processional or recessional, or as the centerpiece of a combined choir performance.

• Reading and executing dramatic dynamic shifts across full TTBB voicing
• Maintaining rhythmic precision when overlaid against an active piano accompaniment
• Balancing four-part harmony to project over a complex keyboard texture
• Phrasing across longer musical lines to serve the work's dramatic arc