How Can We Say Goodbye: SSAB Choral Octavo
How Can We Say Goodbye Sheet Music Preview

How Can We Say Goodbye: SSAB Choral Octavo

By Sherry Blevins

Item: 35-DS01619345
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$3.35
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 11
SKU: 35-DS01619345

More about this title

About the Composer: Sherry Blevins

Sherry Blevins

Sherry Blevins has established herself as a prolific composer and educator whose works span over 27 published pieces across major publishers including Alfred Music, Hinshaw, and Fred Bock. Her music has been performed at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, from Opera Lucca's Composer's Institute to Carnegie Hall, where her works premiered as part of her composer-in-residence selection with National Concerts and MidAmerica Productions.

Beyond composition, Blevins has served as artistic director of the Chattanooga Boys Choir and past president of ACDA's Southern Region, bringing her vision to singers across all levels and age groups. Her collaborative approach to commissioning has resulted in co-composed pieces with school choirs throughout North Carolina and beyond, reflecting her belief that composers and singers should shape music together. Her craft is marked by singable melodies, intelligent harmonies, and accompaniments that support rather than overshadow the voice.

Why we love this

Blevins approaches the theme of separation with emotional directness rather than sentimentality, crafting a piece that feels honest enough for singers to connect with personally while remaining accessible to audiences. The SSAB voicing offers flexibility for mixed choirs or treble ensembles, and the 11-page score suggests substantial musical content that develops an idea rather than simply stating it.

What to expect

The piece carries weight without heaviness, acknowledging the complexity of saying goodbye while maintaining a musical shape that feels inevitable rather than tragic. Blevins' characteristic clarity of voice shines through; you hear every note and intention.

Who it's for

Directors of treble and mixed choirs seeking a contemporary piece with emotional resonance suitable for concert or festival performance. This work serves singers from advanced high school through adult community choirs who want material that challenges them musically while remaining within realistic rehearsal reach.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the upper voices carefully during harmonic moments where melody and countermelody interact; a clear soprano line matters, but the SSA writing often distributes the musical interest across all parts.
  • Let the text breathe alongside the music. The emotional weight of "How Can We Say Goodbye" demands that singers understand and own the lyrical content before polishing the sound.
  • Work the accompaniment early with your pianist or rehearsal track to ensure the choir hears exactly where their phrases sit rhythmically and harmonically.

How to use it

Consider pairing this with other contemporary secular works to create a concert program that explores emotional maturity and sophisticated storytelling. Its length and substance make it suitable as a featured work in a set, or it can anchor a thematic program exploring transitions, relationships, or life passages.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustained legit singing across longer phrase structures
  • Balancing independent melodic lines in close-voiced harmony
  • Emotional expression grounded in textual understanding
  • Part independence in SSA/SSAB voicing without sacrificing blend

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