Our Children: SATB Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the emotional core of Ragtime's most intimate moment, giving choirs direct access to Broadway-quality material that feels genuinely singable across all four voice parts. The piece works equally well as a concert finale or as a bridge into musical theater study, introducing students to a composer whose craft rewards close listening and musical maturity.

A moment of quiet tenderness amid the pageantry of Ragtime's larger narrative. The arrangement preserves the song's introspective quality: warm harmonies, restrained orchestration, and lyrics that resonate with any adult reflecting on family and time. Singers feel the weight of genuine emotion rather than theatrical display.

High school choirs and community ensembles seeking contemporary choral literature rooted in Broadway storytelling. This octavo works for mixed voices at intermediate to advanced levels, particularly programs interested in exploring musical theater repertoire beyond traditional show tune arrangements.

• Balance the harmonic movement carefully in the middle sections; Funk's arrangement supports four distinct lines, and each voice part carries melodic weight that shouldn't disappear into accompaniment texture.
• Shape the text expressively without overdoing dynamics. The emotional pull of parents reflecting on their children lives in restraint and clarity of diction, not volume.
• Work the key changes (if present in the arrangement) with deliberate attention to intonation; modulations in reflective ballads often expose pitch drift.
• Let the recorded accompaniment (if available separately) guide your tempo and harmonic framework during rehearsal, but encourage singers to breathe together as an ensemble rather than following the track.

Program this as a choral centerpiece on a concert that celebrates Broadway's capacity for intimate storytelling, pairing it with other theatrical ballads or using it as a solo showcase for your ensemble's ability to sustain lyrical tone. It also serves as an excellent introduction to Ragtime's score for students studying American musical theater history.

• Sustaining lyrical line across longer phrases without breath interruption
• Balancing four independent voice parts while maintaining harmonic cohesion
• Interpreting Broadway-style text with emotional specificity
• Understanding how arrangement supports character and dramatic context
• Performing contemporary choral music with stylistic authenticity