Kindness and Love: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: Kindness and Love: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-48823
Price: 2.05 USD
Availability: InStock

Words and music by Andrew Bruhn

Item: 00-48823

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Inspired by the music and philosophy of Mr. Rogers, this tender song is a gift from the composer to his students. Heartfelt verses pose questions to singers about their feelings and lead to five important virtues: "kindness and gladness, compassion and joy, and love." The dolce tempo marking requests a sweet tone from the voices and a delicate touch at the piano. There's a lot to be learned here, both musically and emotionally.

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081561479

SKU: 00-48823

More about this title

About the Composer: Andrew Bruhn

Andrew Bruhn conducts choirs, composes, and performs trumpet across multiple settings. Currently Director of Choral Music at Rockford Christian Schools in Illinois, he teaches choirs spanning grades 6-12, AP Music Theory, class piano, and directs the school musical. He also serves as choir director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rockford. His conducting studies took place at Luther Seminary and St. Olaf College under Anton Armstrong, Christopher Aspaas, and Mark Stover, where he earned his Master of Sacred Music degree. His compositional training came from David Cherwien and Alice Parker.

Bruhn's work appears regularly in publications by Choristers Guild, GIA, MusicSpoke, Alfred Music, Carl Fischer, Paraclete Press, and Concordia, with additional releases forthcoming from Augsburg Fortress, Kjos, and Lawson Gould. His school choirs consistently earn superior ratings at organizational contests and have been featured at the Illinois Music Education Conference. He won the 2017 Illinois American Choral Directors Association Composition Contest and was a semi-finalist for The American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019. As a trumpeter, he has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Interlochen's World Youth Symphony Orchestra.

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Why we love this

Bruhn anchors this piece in genuine emotional exploration rather than surface sentimentality. The song asks singers to genuinely reflect on their feelings while moving toward five concrete virtues, making it suitable for both concert performance and festival competition. The combination of accessible two-part writing with a dolce marking gives young singers something real to interpret vocally.

What to expect

Tender and reflective, this song invites singers inward before opening outward toward connection. The dolce marking and gentle piano accompaniment create space for genuine voices rather than demanding dramatic projection; what emerges is both intimate and humanizing.

Who it's for

This piece works beautifully for middle school and high school choirs seeking repertoire that combines musical integrity with emotional depth. It's equally suited to general music ensembles and more serious choral programs; the accessibility of the two-part texture opens the door for developing singers while the philosophically grounded text rewards mature interpretation.

How to get the most out of it

Shape each question in the verses with authentic curiosity in your tone rather than as statements; treat them as genuine invitations for reflection
Balance the transparency of two-part writing by ensuring both parts carry equal weight; avoid letting the upper voices dominate
Request a genuinely sweet tone as indicated by the dolce marking, but distinguish it from thinness; singers should maintain full resonance while softening intensity
Work the text intentionally around the five virtues so singers understand what emotional quality each one calls for; kindness, gladness, compassion, joy, and love each invite slightly different vocal colors

How to use it

This piece anchors a concert section exploring character and community, pairing naturally with other choral works about kindness, inclusion, or social-emotional themes. It also serves well as a contest selection where judges value emotional honesty and clear musical communication over technical showiness. The eight-page format makes it manageable for rehearsal schedules while its recorded accompaniment availability supports preparation and performance flexibility.