If I Can Sing: SATB Choral Octavo

Beery understands the middle and secondary school choir because he lives in it every day, directing hundreds of singers across multiple ability levels. This piece proves it: the alternate voicings mean you can program a sophisticated poem and lush harmonies whether your choir reads fluently or is still building independence. The text itself carries real weight, giving your singers something meaningful to sing about rather than another generic love song.

The music unfolds like a series of watercolor washes, with harmonic colors shifting and blending across each phrase. Beery's setting honors Teasdale's quiet but resolute text, never overshadowing her words but rather wrapping them in warm, expansive harmony. Singers often emerge from this piece surprised by how much emotion they felt moving through its gentle architectural turns.

This octavo suits intermediate to advanced secondary choirs, as well as developing middle school choirs with strong sight-reading skills or sufficient rehearsal time. The alternate voicings make it accessible to varied choir sizes and ability levels, from smaller ensembles to full sections. Directors seeking repertoire that combines literary depth with musicianship development will find it especially valuable.

• Balance the harmonic colors by listening across sections rather than within them; the shifting palette Beery creates requires the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass lines to blend as one color changes to the next.
• Take time with the text during rehearsal. Sara Teasdale's "Refuge" explores freedom through song, and your singers will invest more deeply if they understand why these words mattered to her in 1917 and why they matter now.
• Use the recorded accompaniment (available separately) in early rehearsals to establish the harmonic foundation, then gradually shift to a cappella or piano to deepen ensemble listening.
• Attend to diction as a tool for mood; the lush writing invites legato singing, but clarity of text will keep the message from disappearing into the harmony.

Program this as a concert centerpiece or opening selection where you want to set a reflective, artistic tone. It pairs well alongside other poetry-based choral works or as part of a thematic concert exploring freedom, resilience, or the power of the arts. The adaptable voicings also make it suitable for festival competition, where judges appreciate both musical maturity and accessibility.

• Reading and sustaining shifting harmonic color changes across SATB texture
• Interpreting literary text and translating emotional meaning into vocal expression
• Balancing part independence with ensemble blend in lush, non-triadic harmony
• Adapting to multiple voicing options and flexible arrangement choices
• Developing legato line-singing across sustained passages