Rhapsody: SSA Choral Octavo
Words by Florence Earle Coates, music by Vicki Tucker Courtney
Item: 00-PO-0001879
$1.85
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This ardent love song features elegant poetry that speaks beautifully within the graceful triple meter. Offering many three-part sonorities and a lyrical melody, this tender ballad is a joy for women to sing.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001879
More about this title
About the Composer: Vicki Tucker Courtney
Vicki Tucker Courtney began piano study at age four and continued with rigorous classical training. Her time at North Texas State University deepened her skills as a collaborative pianist and exposed her to choral writing; these experiences shaped her prolific career as a composer and arranger across multiple mediums including choir, piano, handbells, and solo voice.
Courtney has earned recognition through multiple ASCAP Plus Awards and studied composition under the mentorship of Dove Award winner Mark Hayes. Since her first milestone of 100 published titles in 2009, she has grown her catalog to over 350 works. She maintains an active teaching studio in Columbia, Tennessee, where she tutors piano and composition students while continuing to compose and arrange full time.
Why we love this
Courtney crafts genuine lyricism here without resorting to octave doublings or block harmonies; the three-part writing gives each voice melodic independence while the triple meter creates natural phrase momentum. Directors will appreciate how the elegant poetry pairs with musical substance, making this equally at home in a concert setting or competition round.
What to expect
Rhapsody unfolds with the unhurried warmth of a confessional; the triple meter and elegant poetry create a graceful, intimate atmosphere. Three-part sonorities bloom across the duration, supporting a melody that feels both conversational and deeply felt, inviting the listener into a private moment of affection.
Who it's for
SSA choirs of intermediate to advanced ability will find this piece rewarding. The writing is lyrical and singable without oversimplifying harmonic content, making it suitable for women's ensembles preparing a tender ballad for concert or festival performance.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melodic line across the entire phrase rather than stopping at bar lines; the lyrical character depends on unbroken vocal line even when passing between voice parts.
- Balance the three parts so no single voice dominates the harmonic texture; in passages with parallel motion, lock the vertical sonorities before worrying about blend.
- Treat the triple meter as a naturally lilting pulse rather than a march; allow slight rubato in the final phrases to honor the emotional arc of the text.
How to use it
Program this as a contrasting anchor in a larger SSA concert, particularly after a more energetic or complex work. Its tender character also pairs well with other love songs or romantic texts, and the moderate length (12 pages) makes it an efficient festival or competition selection that leaves time for additional repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Singing independent melodic lines within three-part texture while maintaining ensemble blend
- Sustaining lyricism across longer phrases in triple meter
- Balancing vertical sonorities so all three parts contribute equally to harmonic color
- Interpreting romantic text with appropriate vocal phrasing and emotional commitment