I Am That Man: TTBB Choral Octavo

Hayes writes for advanced male voices with genuine knowledge of what tenor and bass singers can do at their best. The text draws from Obama's inaugural address to create something with real emotional weight and contemporary relevance, elevating your singers' understanding of why the words matter. The harmonic language is sophisticated without being inaccessible, and the piece rewards rehearsal with moments that will genuinely move an audience.

Powerful and grounded, with the kind of thoughtful dignity that comes from serious text paired with elegant harmony. The music feels contemporary without abandoning the warmth of traditional four-part male chorus writing, creating moments of real uplift alongside passages of reflective depth.

Advanced male choir singers who have the vocal maturity and interpretive experience to handle text with contemporary political resonance. This piece is ideal for ensembles comfortable with 12 pages of sophisticated harmonic writing and ready to engage audiences with music that speaks to broader themes of leadership and identity.

• Spend time on diction clarity in the opening statements; Hayes uses the text as the primary storytelling device, so every word needs to land cleanly even at slower tempos.
• Balance the upper and lower voices through the middle section; the piece benefits from a full, warm tenor sound that doesn't overpower the bass line underneath.
• Use the recorded accompaniment (available on PianoTrax 2) as a rehearsal aid to lock harmonic progressions, then work toward independence so singers can feel the text rather than just follow the piano.
• Shape the climactic moments with slight dynamic swells rather than sudden jumps; Hayes's writing suggests a building emotional intensity that comes from phrasing conviction, not volume alone.

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert celebrating contemporary choral writing or as part of a thematic program exploring American voices and identity. Its sophistication and contemporary relevance make it especially effective in spring concerts where you want to leave audiences with something substantive to reflect on.

• Sustained vocal line independence across four parts with overlapping phrases
• Expressive interpretation of text-driven composition
• Harmonic listening and blend in extended chord progressions
• Ensemble precision in passages with rhythmic complexity
• Confidence performing contemporary choral literature