Killing Me Softly With His Song (arr. Deke Sharon): SATB Choral Octavo
Killing Me Softly With His Song (arr. Deke Sharon) Sheet Music Preview

Killing Me Softly With His Song (arr. Deke Sharon): SATB Choral Octavo

As performed by Roberta Flack / Arranged by Deke Sharon

Item: 35-DS00132468
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS00132468

More about this title

About the Artist: Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack emerged as one of the defining voices of 1970s soul and R&B, bringing classical training and jazz sensibility to popular song. Her interpretive gifts transformed standards and contemporary material alike, earning her multiple Grammy Awards and establishing her as a vocalist of remarkable depth and control.

Flack's influence on vocal music education extends beyond her recording legacy. Her approach to phrasing, dynamics, and emotional authenticity provides teachers with a masterclass in how technical skill serves artistic storytelling. Her recordings remain essential listening for singers learning how to prioritize meaning over mechanics.

Why we love this

Deke Sharon's arrangement captures the intimate vulnerability of this 1973 classic while making it singable for mixed ensembles without sacrificing sophistication. The chart respects the original's emotional arc while giving each voice part genuine musical interest, which means students stay engaged rather than feeling like accompaniment.

What to expect

Smooth, soulful, and confidential, like sharing a quiet confession with someone you trust completely. The arrangement settles into warm harmonies that feel inevitable rather than showy, with moments of genuine tenderness breaking through any arrangement complexity.

Who it's for

Choirs with solid blend and intonation skills who are ready for jazz-influenced harmony and contemporary soul arrangements. This works for high school show choirs, collegiate a cappella groups, and community ensembles seeking repertoire that bridges popular and art music traditions.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the melody line so it floats above rather than fights through the harmonic texture. Flack's original thrives on restraint, and your choir will too.
  • Shape phrases as if they're spoken conversations rather than sung lines. The lyrical content demands naturalistic phrasing that sometimes sits against the expected metric pulse.
  • Let silence matter. The spaces between phrases in a cappella settings define the sound as much as the notes do. Resist the urge to fill every moment.
  • Consider slight tempo flexibility in key moments to serve the lyrical drama. A rigid tempo can flatten the emotional truth this arrangement depends on.

How to use it

Program this alongside spirituals or other soul-influenced sacred music to highlight the emotional vocabulary contemporary students bring to choir. It also pairs well in a section exploring how standards and beloved songs move into the concert repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining legit tone while grounding hip-hop influenced rhythmic figures
  • Balancing independence within jazz harmonies (extended chord tones, voice leading through chromatic movement)
  • Shaping contemporary lyrical phrasing without losing classical technique
  • Singing with stylistic authenticity in R&B and soul idioms
  • Listening critically to blend in a cappella settings with chromatic voice parts

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