Give Me Wings: SAB Choral Octavo

Sprunger writes with genuine understanding of what moves a mixed choir. The melodic line sits naturally across SAB voices, and the harmonic language is sophisticated enough to hold an audience's attention without overwhelming singers who are still building their skills. This is the kind of piece that sounds better each time you rehearse it.

A moment of reflection and hope, carried by a melody that stays with singers long after rehearsal ends. The harmonic language supports the text without calling attention to itself, letting the emotional core of the piece shine through.

High school and middle school choirs with solid fundamentals in blend and blend will find this piece rewarding. It works equally well for groups preparing for festival or contest and those looking for a meaningful finale to a concert season.

• Balance the top voice carefully in measures where the melody moves to alto or baritone parts; many singers default to supporting soprano, so mark your parts clearly when the main line shifts.
• Work the text expressively from the first rehearsal. This ballad depends on singers understanding what they're singing about, so discuss the meaning before diving into notes.
• Use the Alfred SoundTrax accompaniment to establish the tempo and harmonic context, especially if your accompanist is learning the part alongside the choir.
• Shape the dynamic arc across phrases rather than treating each line independently; ballads need breath and forward motion even in quieter moments.

Position this as a closing number on a graduation ceremony or spring concert. Its contemplative yet uplifting character provides the perfect send-off for students moving forward, and it offers audiences a chance to settle into genuine feeling rather than spectacle.

• Balancing independent melodic lines across three voices
• Singing with emotional maturity and connection to text
• Blend and intonation in SAB harmony
• Phrasing and dynamic shaping in ballad form