Don't Make Lists: SSA Choral Octavo

Johnson captures something genuinely funny here without resorting to parody or condescension. The piece treats its humorous subject matter with real musical care, giving your singers something meaty to perform while the audience gets the joke.

There's a lightness and wit woven through the harmonic fabric, paired with Johnson's characteristic clarity of orchestration. The piece manages to be funny without sacrificing musical integrity, creating moments where laughter and genuine musicianship coexist.

SSA ensembles looking for contemporary concert repertoire that engages singers and delights audiences. This works equally well for treble choirs seeking material with personality and a contemporary voice.

• Keep the text crystal clear; comedic timing in choral music lives or dies by lyrical articulation and diction.
• Resist the urge to push the tempo. The humor lands better when you let phrases breathe and land with precision.
• Explore the harmonic surprises Johnson plants throughout; they're often the vehicle for the wit.

Pair this with a more serious contemporary work to showcase range within modern choral writing, or use it as a palate cleanser in a concert that otherwise skews traditional. It's substantial enough to anchor a set while approachable enough that audiences remember it with a smile.

• Maintaining rhythmic precision while delivering text with comedic clarity
• Understanding how harmonic color contributes to musical storytelling
• Building ensemble blend across an SSA voicing with contemporary writing