Flowers In Winter: SSA Choral Octavo

The piece carries both warmth and reflection, finding beauty in the juxtaposition of its title concept without becoming heavy or abstract. Purifoy's harmonic language feels accessible but never predictable, creating moments that satisfy performers and audiences alike.

SSA and SSAA choirs looking for contemporary repertoire that bridges pop sensibility with legitimate choral writing. This works for high school, collegiate, or community ensembles with singers at intermediate to advanced levels.

• Build the harmonic blend gradually across the three parts; ask singers to listen through rather than at each other, especially in moments where parts move in parallel motion.
• The piano accompaniment carries considerable weight here. Invest rehearsal time in the accompanist's rhythmic clarity so the choir can lock into the underlying groove without wavering.
• Shape phrases by thinking horizontally across phrases rather than metrically. Purifoy's lines often push past obvious bar divisions, so encourage singers to breathe musically rather than mechanically.

Pair this with other contemporary choral work on a spring or winter concert to show the range of what SSA can express. It also works as a feature piece for a dedicated pop or secular choral showcase, offering singers a chance to bring modern sensibilities to the concert hall.

• Balancing three-part counterpoint while maintaining stylistic clarity
• Executing pop-influenced rhythmic precision without losing lyrical shape
• Reading and executing modern harmonic language with confidence
• Collaborative listening across multiple independent lines
• Interpreting contemporary concert repertoire with appropriate tone and phrasing