Crossing: SATB Choral Octavo

McCune's arrangement gives your choir a piece with genuine substance in just two pages. The SATB voicing sits naturally for mixed ensembles, and the concise format means you can teach it efficiently without shortchanging musical nuance.

The piece has clarity and purpose; its two-page format belies a fully realized musical statement. Singing it feels focused rather than rushed, with each section earning its place.

Directors seeking a secular concert piece that fits a single rehearsal block and works for festivals or concert programming. Choirs with solid rhythmic reading and the ability to balance four parts will get the most from this arrangement.

• Spend rehearsal time on the harmonic movement in the inner voices; the arrangement's interest lives there, and clarity will elevate the whole sound.
• Record a section rehearsal focused on how the parts interlock, then run it with the full choir so everyone hears how their line contributes to the texture.
• Shape each phrase with a clear arc rather than singing straight through; this two-page piece deserves the same attention to line you'd give a longer work.

Slot this into a concert where you need an engaging but substantive secular work that won't overshadow larger pieces or slow your rehearsal timeline. It also works as a festival selection where you want to demonstrate musicianship and tight ensemble singing without heavy dramatic stakes.

• SATB balance and blend in a compact arrangement
• Following harmonic movement across four parts
• Phrasing and shaping in shorter forms
• Part independence and ensemble listening