Greed: Choral Octavo

Reagon's approach to text setting cuts straight to emotional truth without sentimentality. The piece challenges singers to engage with weighty material while remaining accessible to groups looking to program work that provokes thought and conversation.

Urgent and contemplative by turns. The harmonic language carries both tension and yearning, grounding abstract concepts in the human voice. There is no distance between the music and its message.

Choirs ready to tackle repertoire with social and emotional depth. This work suits ensembles committed to meaningful programming and singers mature enough to handle thematic content that demands presence and reflection.

• Clarify the harmonic progressions early in rehearsal; Reagon's voice leading is intentional and rewards attention to intonation across the full chord.
• Consider the lyrics as driving force. Every musical gesture should reflect the emotional weight of the text.
• Experiment with dynamics to shape the narrative arc. This piece asks singers to build intensity and release it deliberately, not all at once.

Program this alongside other spiritually rooted or socially conscious repertoire to create a concert that addresses larger themes. It works particularly well in contexts celebrating African American composers or in seasons exploring how choral music engages with contemporary questions.

• Interpreting text with emotional nuance and intentionality
• Navigating contemporary harmonic language
• Sustaining focus through lyrically demanding material
• Balancing individual vocal lines within a collective sound