Pax Tecum: SAB Choral Octavo
(Peace, My Friend)
Words and music by Nathaniel Stine
Item: 00-PO-0007497
$2.30
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A pensive, chorale-style opening (supported by minimal accompaniment) sets a tone of reverence for this gentle song of peace. After the piano part blossoms, a variety of choral textures and harmonic high points make the mostly English text resonate. Assign a few sopranos on the lovely descant, which appears just before the piece tapers to its soft final chord.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007497
More about this title
About the Composer: Nathaniel Stine
Nathaniel Stine earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Gordon College in Massachusetts and his Master of Music in Choral Music from the University of Southern California. His career spans performance, conducting, arranging, and music direction across venues nationwide, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall as pianist and arranger with the Tim Janis Ensemble, collaborating with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, James Galway, and Tori Kelly.
Stine currently serves as Chorus and Orchestra Director at Rogers-Herr Middle School in Durham, North Carolina, and as Choir Director at Blacknall Presbyterian Church, also in Durham. A multi-instrumentalist since elementary school, he plays piano, guitar, and saxophone. Beyond music, he is known for his humor, enthusiasm for crossword puzzles and cooking, and steadfast loyalty to his Boston sports teams from his adopted home in North Carolina.
Why we love this
The chorale-style opening and restrained piano accompaniment create an immediately reverent soundscape, allowing your singers to focus on text clarity and gentle blend from the first phrase. Stine's harmonic language deepens as the piece progresses, offering moments of genuine emotional depth without requiring an advanced ensemble, and the optional descant provides a satisfying challenge for your strongest sopranos without overwhelming the three-part texture.
What to expect
Reverent and contemplative, with a quiet confidence that grows gradually. The piece unfolds like a gentle meditation, beginning in stillness before the piano rises beneath the voices, creating moments of lush harmonic color that feel both warm and spacious.
Who it's for
This piece suits intermediate choirs seeking meaningful repertoire for peace-themed or graduation concerts. The SAB voicing and straightforward English text make it accessible for middle school choirs and community ensembles, while the harmonic sophistication and descant option engage more experienced singers.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the chorale texture carefully in the opening measures; the minimal piano support means your SAB voices must sing with unified vowels and steady support to establish the peaceful foundation.
- Bring the descant sopranos in gradually and let them bloom sonically just before the final section; they should feel like a gentle addition rather than a sudden shift.
- Let the piano's blossoming accompaniment guide the choral dynamics in the middle section; follow the instrument's growing harmonic texture with proportional growth in your choral sound.
- Shape the final chord with gradual diminuendo across multiple beats, allowing it to settle and dissipate rather than ending abruptly.
How to use it
Program this as the emotional anchor in a peace or brotherhood concert, or use it as a reflective piece in a graduation ceremony. Its gentle, closing-appropriate mood makes it an excellent final selection, or pair it with more energetic repertoire to create meaningful contrast in a mixed program.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining pure vowel sounds in a chorale texture
- Reading and balancing three-part mixed voicing
- Responding to piano accompaniment dynamics and harmonic changes
- Singing descant parts with independence and blend
- Text interpretation and emotional communication in English lyrics