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Both Sides Now: SSA Choral Octavo

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Both Sides Now Cover Image
Both Sides Now: SSA Choral Octavo

Both Sides Now: SSA Choral Octavo

Words and music by Joni Mitchell / arr. John Leavitt

Item: 00-48395
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Description
Recorded and performed by more than fifty artists in the fifty-plus years since its initial release, this Joni Mitchell song has become an enduring meditation on the shifting perspective that comes with time. The melody passes generously from part to part across a shimmering palette of choral harmonies. John Leavitt provides a piano accompaniment that adds texture and color while fully supporting the voices.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Both Sides Now: SSA Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
UPC: 038081552187
SKU: 00-48395

More about this title

About the Composer: Joni Michell

Joni Mitchell stands as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the late twentieth century, known for her poetic lyrics, complex harmonic language, and willingness to reinvent her sound across decades. Her compositions have been recorded by artists across genres, from folk to rock to jazz, and her work continues to shape how musicians approach storytelling through melody and chord progression.

Why we love this

John Leavitt's arrangement honors Mitchell's intricate harmonic palette while making the piece fully accessible to SSA choirs. The melody's generous distribution across voice parts keeps the texture fresh and engaging, and the piano accompaniment acts as a sophisticated partner rather than mere support, giving singers a rich harmonic foundation to sing into.

What to expect

The arrangement unfolds like looking through a prism, with light (and the melody) refracting across different voice parts in shimmering succession. There's an openness and reflective quality to the harmonies that mirrors the song's meditation on perspective and time, creating moments of surprising harmonic richness that feel both contemporary and timeless.

Who it's for

SSA choirs seeking accessible pop literature with genuine musical substance will find a natural fit here. The arrangement works equally well for community choirs, high school singers, and concert ensembles looking to program contemporary material alongside traditional repertoire.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the melody line carefully as it moves between sections; ensure the carrying voice is always audible without requiring the other parts to back off entirely.
  • Use the piano part as an interpretive guide for phrasing and dynamics; Leavitt's writing reveals where the harmonic tension and resolution occur.
  • Approach the shifting harmonies with attention to blend and vowel consistency, particularly in moments where parts move in parallel motion.
  • Take time to understand how each voice part contributes to the song's emotional arc; this shapes how you approach dynamics and interpretation across the arrangement.

How to use it

Program this as a standalone contemporary selection on a mixed or pop repertoire concert, or pair it with other singer-songwriter arrangements to create a thematic program exploring modern poetry in music. Its reflective character also makes it a strong choice for a spring concert or for programs addressing themes of growth and change.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing moving melody lines that pass between voice parts
  • Blending and balancing in SSA voicing while maintaining independent line integrity
  • Interpreting contemporary harmonic language beyond traditional functional harmony
  • Phrasing and expression in popular music idiom
  • Responding to piano accompaniment as an interpretive partner

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