Peace: SATB Choral Octavo

Shore's setting of Eleanor Roosevelt's words on peace carries the narrative gift he perfected in film composition into choral writing. The piece premiered at Washington National Cathedral under Judith Clurman, a signal that this is concert-hall quality repertoire written specifically for choir, not an adaptation of existing material. Directors seeking contemporary work with intellectual weight and accessibility will find the text and music genuinely entwined.

The piece embodies earnestness without sentimentality. Shore's film-score background means the music never overreaches or becomes bombastic; instead it deepens the weight of Roosevelt's words through clear harmonic movement and carefully placed climaxes. The setting feels both modern and timeless.

This octavo works for mixed choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who want contemporary repertoire with substance. Singers and directors alike respond to Shore's accessible yet sophisticated harmonic language, and the peace theme offers programming flexibility across concert seasons.

• Approach the Eleanor Roosevelt text as you would a dramatic monologue: each phrase should carry meaning and intention, not just notes in sequence.
• Balance the SATB writing carefully in rehearsal. Shore's orchestral training means inner voices often carry harmonic or rhythmic importance that can disappear if the choir defaults to soprano-dominant tuning.
• Use the available instrumental parts (when licensed) to anchor harmonic clarity during the learning phase, then remove them gradually as the choir gains independence.

This works powerfully as the emotional center of a concert focused on justice, community, or social themes. It pairs well alongside both classical peace-themed repertoire and other contemporary settings, and its 12-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a program without overwhelming concert pacing.

• Singing contemporary harmonic language with confidence and intonation
• Interpreting text-driven choral writing where meaning shapes phrasing
• Balancing SATB independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion