Crossing a Bridge: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This arrangement captures the emotional core of Anastasia's journey without getting weighed down by overwrought orchestration or excessive vocal pyrotechnics. Lisa DeSpain's writing trusts the song's structure and melody to land the character moment, making it rewarding both to teach and to hear in performance.

Wistful and searching. The song moves through uncertainty toward a kind of hard-won clarity, with Flaherty's harmonic language supporting that emotional trajectory. There's accessibility here, but also real sophistication in how the arrangement unfolds.

Choirs singing above their reading level but not yet in elite competitive territory. The piece suits groups comfortable with contemporary musical theatre idiom and looking for material that resonates with younger singers on a genuine emotional level.

• Anchor the emotional arc in the text. This is Anya processing memory and identity, so shape the phrasing around the lyrical content rather than forcing rhythmic precision at the expense of vulnerability.
• Balance the harmonic colors in the inner voices; Flaherty's arrangement includes meaningful movement in the second soprano and alto lines that shouldn't disappear beneath the melody.
• Use the recorded accompaniment as a rhythmic reference during early rehearsals, but transition away from it once parts are secure so singers own the interpretive choices.

Pair this with other contemporary musical theatre selections for a spring concert, or use it as a standalone feature that bridges serious choral singing and popular musical idiom. It works particularly well in programs exploring identity, self-discovery, or character-driven storytelling.

• Shaping sustained phrases through harmonic and emotional content rather than mechanical phrasing marks
• Balance and blend in four-part voicing with active inner voices
• Interpreting contemporary songwriting with theatrical intention while maintaining choral ensemble cohesion
• Connecting text to musicality in Broadway-style arrangements