And This Shall Be for Music: PianoTrax Digital Download

Johnson writes with a poet's ear for text and a director's understanding of what SATB voices can accomplish together. This piece moves beyond functional choral writing; the literary quality of the text paired with the musical setting creates a moment that lingers with singers and audiences alike. It works equally well in concert programming and competitive festival settings.

The music unfolds with the thoughtfulness of spoken poetry set to song. There is a reverence to the sound world Johnson creates here, with moments of subtle harmonic color that invite the listener inward rather than demand attention. The piece respects both the text and the singers performing it.

This octavo suits mixed choirs at the high school and college levels, as well as community and church choirs seeking repertoire with both artistic depth and performance accessibility. Directors programming concert or festival events will find this piece bridges the gap between functional choral literature and genuinely memorable musical moments.

• Balance the soprano and alto lines carefully in passages where they diverge; Johnson often uses the upper voices to carry thematic material while the lower voices provide harmonic support, so resist the urge to over-blend.
• Shape the text through musical phrasing rather than mechanical breath marks. The poetic nature of this work rewards singers who understand where the language naturally peaks and where it should settle.
• Use the PianoTrax accompaniment to establish harmonic clarity during early rehearsals, then gradually reduce dependence on it so the choir internalizes chord relationships and learns to listen to internal voice independence.

Pair this with other secular, literary-focused pieces to create a concert set around language and meaning, or use it as a centerpiece in a festival program where the sophistication of the text and music will stand out among typical contest fare. The contemplative quality also makes it an effective choice for concert closings or spring programs where you want to send the audience out thoughtfully rather than energetically.

• Shaping phrases through understanding poetic language and punctuation
• Balancing multiple melodic lines in SATB writing without losing harmonic cohesion
• Singing with textual awareness and interpretive nuance
• Listening to internal voice independence while maintaining ensemble blend