Equality: SATB Choral Octavo

Hayes positions Angelou's words about equality front and center, trusting the text's power while surrounding it with melodic momentum and harmonic sophistication that honors both the message and the musicians performing it. The inclusion of an optional solo voice adds dramatic clarity and allows directors to feature skilled soloists without compromising the ensemble's role as the piece's emotional core. Programming flexibility matters too: whether you perform this as a standalone anthem or as part of the larger Like Dust I Rise sequence, Hayes provides the structural and tonal tools to make either choice feel purposeful.

Propulsive and unflinching. Hayes builds momentum through contemporary gospel-inflected harmonies and a steady rhythmic drive that never tips into preachiness. The solo voice cuts through with vulnerability and clarity, while the ensemble behind it creates a foundation of collective strength and resolve.

Directors programming choral music that speaks to social justice and contemporary values will find a piece with literary merit and musical substance. This works for high school and college choirs with secure part singers and a willingness to engage text with intentionality. Chamber choirs and smaller ensembles can also realize this piece effectively with careful balancing.

• Balance the solo voice so it projects the message without overwhelming the choir; the accompanying harmonies deserve space and clarity.
• Approach the upward modulation in the final section as a physical shift in energy. Conductors should cue the choir to sit slightly forward and brighten their vowels to embody the text's escalating conviction.
• If using the recorded accompaniment, run several rehearsals without it first to establish secure part independence and ensemble precision; the accompaniment will then enhance rather than mask your work.
• Let the text rhythm and phrasing guide your tempo choices. Contemporary gospel style invites flexibility within a steady pulse, especially around Angelou's most pointed phrases.

Pair this with other choral works addressing identity, justice, or human dignity to create a thematic concert program with emotional and intellectual coherence. As a standalone piece, it commands a place in spring or end-of-year concerts where directors want to demonstrate choral maturity and meaningful engagement with text. If you own Like Dust I Rise, the alternate ending option allows you to build a larger statement across two complementary movements.

• Singing contemporary gospel harmonies with rhythmic precision and harmonic independence
• Interpreting and performing text with clarity and emotional conviction
• Balancing solo and ensemble voices in a mixed texture
• Managing modulation and building energy through harmonic and rhythmic momentum
• Working with recorded accompaniment while maintaining ensemble cohesion and musicality