Close Your Eyes And Dream: Unison/Opt. 2-Part Choral Octavo

Intimate and reflective, with the kind of gentle magic that folk songs naturally possess when sung without pretense. There is simplicity here, but the simplicity is earned and expressive rather than empty.

Elementary and middle school choirs, particularly singers encountering unison repertoire for the first time. The optional second part makes it accessible to programs beginning to introduce harmony without abandoning younger or less experienced singers.

• Establish the folk character early by treating the melody with simplicity and directness rather than over-shaping it; let the text guide your phrasing naturally.
• If using the optional second part, rehearse it separately first to build confidence before blending, since young singers often need time to hold an independent line.
• Pay attention to breath placement at phrase endings; with unison singing, unified breathing creates a collective strength that silence alone cannot match.

Pair this alongside other folk settings to build a thematic program celebrating accessible, singable repertoire. It works particularly well in a concert designed for families or younger audiences, where its directness and warmth create an immediate connection with listeners.

• Sustaining tone quality across a full phrase in unison
• Reading and interpreting folk melody with sensitivity to text
• Transitioning from unison to optional two-part singing
• Collective breathing and blend in a stripped-down vocal texture