Forget Not My Heart: SSA Choral Octavo
Words by John Parker, music by Vicki Tucker Courtney
Item: 00-PO-0003629
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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About the Composer: Vicki Tucker Courtney

Vicki Tucker Courtney began piano studies at age four and later immersed herself in choral work during her time at North Texas State University, where accompanying choirs shaped her compositional voice. Her creative output spans choral arrangements, piano works, handbells, and solo vocal music, earning her multiple ASCAP Plus Awards and recognition from mentor Mark Hayes. Based in Columbia, Tennessee, Courtney has published over 350 titles and continues to compose full time while teaching piano and composition to students of all ages.
Courtney's gift for writing accessible yet sophisticated choral music reflects her deep understanding of both the instrument of the human voice and the emotional power of song. Her catalog demonstrates a commitment to creating repertoire that challenges singers while remaining deeply singable, making her a trusted voice in contemporary choral literature.
Why we love this
Courtney's command of harmonic language shines here. The gentle dissonances and suspensions feel earned and purposeful rather than arbitrary, creating emotional depth without technical excess. This is the kind of piece that reminds singers why they chose choral music in the first place.
What to expect
Tender and introspective, this piece invites singers into intimate emotional territory. The harmonic language is warm yet complex enough to feel sophisticated, creating an atmosphere of quiet vulnerability that lingers after the final note.
Who it's for
This octavo works beautifully for women's choirs and SSA sections in mixed ensembles seeking repertoire that demonstrates musical maturity without requiring advanced vocal technique. It's equally valuable in concert or festival contexts, appealing to audiences of all ages.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape each phrase with the lyrical contour in mind rather than phrase-marking. Let the text and harmonic progressions guide your breathing and phrasing choices naturally.
- Balance the SSA voicing so the soprano melody doesn't overshadow the inner voices. Those suspensions and dissonances need to be heard to land emotionally.
- Encourage singers to sit with the expressive dynamics on the page. Dynamic specificity at this level isn't decoration; it's essential to the emotional arc Courtney has written.
- Work intonation carefully in passages with unexpected harmony. A tuning issue will flatten the emotional impact of the piece.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece that allows audiences to sit with something genuinely moving, or pair it with other Courtney works to showcase her distinctive compositional voice. It functions beautifully as a festival selection where judging panels value emotional authenticity alongside technical execution.
Skills your students will build
- Singing suspensions and dissonances with accurate intonation
- Balancing independent voice parts within an SSA texture
- Responding to expressive dynamics as structural markers rather than ornamental
- Maintaining musical line through chromatic and unexpected harmonic movement