Like an Eagle: SAB Choral Octavo

Strommen crafts this piece to do exactly what a good choral ballad should: start intimate and gradually build to a moment of real power without losing control. The SAB voicing sits naturally, giving students room to find their parts while the accompaniment (captured beautifully in the SoundTrax) carries the emotional arc. It's the kind of piece that sounds impressive in performance and feels satisfying to rehearse.

The piece opens with quiet aspiration, the kind of moment that asks singers to listen to one another before the band kicks in. As the arrangement develops, layers of harmony and energy accumulate, building toward a climactic payoff that feels earned rather than imposed. It's the musical equivalent of watching something ordinary transform into something magnificent.

This octavo fits choirs of intermediate to advancing ability who are ready for a piece that rewards ensemble blend and dynamic control. It works equally well for school choirs building toward spring concerts and adult or community ensembles looking for a contemporary standard with real emotional resonance.

• Shape the first verse with restraint; the emotional payoff comes only if you've left room to grow. Save dynamic intensity for where the piece actually asks for it.
• Balance the three parts carefully during the building sections so the soprano and alto lines remain audible beneath the alto-baritone foundation.
• Work the recorded accompaniment early in rehearsals to anchor students' sense of tempo and phrasing, then gradually reduce reliance on it as confidence grows.
• Pay attention to text painting and lyrical phrasing; the melody wants to soar, not sit mechanically on the beat.

Program this as a spring concert centerpiece or as a thoughtful selection for graduation events when you want something uplifting but not frivolous. Its connection to both Earth Day and seasonal themes gives it natural home in May programming, and the piece stands as a satisfying standalone number or as part of a mixed concert that needs an emotional lift.

• Dynamic contrast and controlled crescendo through an extended phrase
• Balancing independent lines within a three-part texture
• Interpretation of text through musical phrasing and expression
• Part independence while maintaining ensemble blend
• Working with recorded accompaniment as a rehearsal and performance tool