Killing Me Softly With His Song (arr. Deke Sharon): SATB Choral Octavo
As performed by Roberta Flack / Arranged by Deke Sharon
Item: 35-DS00132468
Digital Download
$2.99
Minimum order quantity: 10 copies
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Description
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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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