Let Me In: Violin: Choral Octavo Digital SoundPax

The optional violin obbligato gives you genuine flexibility: use it to add textural richness and draw listeners in, or perform it as a pure choral piece if your ensemble doesn't have violin coverage. Kirkendall's arrangement respects the flowing vocal writing while keeping the part-writing clean enough for mixed-level singers to execute well.

Introspective and yearning. The flowing vocal lines create an almost conversational quality, while the optional violin draws out moments of vulnerability. There's a cinematic quality to the music that pulls listeners into an intimate emotional space without requiring theatrical delivery.

Mixed choirs looking for contemporary repertoire with emotional resonance and built-in flexibility. Whether your singers have violin support available or not, this piece works; the optional instrumentation means you're not locked into a specific ensemble configuration.

• Shape the vocal lines as if they were instrumental phrases; the obbligato violin will naturally follow your singers' momentum rather than leading it.
• If using the violin part, rehearse it separately from the choir first to establish its independent character, then integrate it gradually so the ensemble hears it as an enhancement rather than a competing melodic line.
• Maintain consistent legit throughout; the "hauntingly beautiful" quality depends on sustained tone and smooth phrase connections rather than dramatic dynamic shifts.
• Balance the choir carefully if you include the violin part; the obbligato should complement, not overshadow, your ensemble's sound.

Pair this with other contemporary pop choral selections for a cohesive concert segment, or use it as a standout moment in a broader concert that mixes classical and modern works. The sophisticated emotional content and optional instrumentation make it equally at home in a spring pops concert or a more formal winter holiday program.

• Sustaining legit vocal production through longer phrases
• Balance and blend in mixed ensemble settings
• Following an independent instrumental line while maintaining choir cohesion
• Interpretation of contemporary melodic writing with emotional nuance