Stay: SSA Choral Octavo
Words based on a poem by Maguerite Wiele, adapted by Herb Frombach, music by Vicki Tucker Courtney
Item: 00-PO-0001232
$1.80
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
This tender song is an eloquent ode to friendship, comparing it to the lovely blooms of nature's most beautiful flowers. Your female singers will treasure every note and word. Pretty and poignant. Accompaniment available on PianoTrax 4 CD (00-35870).
Stay: SSA Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0001232
More about this title
About the Composer: Vicki Tucker Courtney
Vicki Tucker Courtney began piano study at age four and pursued advanced musical training at North Texas State University, where she accompanied choral ensembles while deepening her understanding of vocal writing. Her career spans composing and arranging for multiple genres and ensembles: SSA and SATB choirs, piano, handbells, and solo voice. She has received numerous ASCAP Plus Awards and studied composition under the mentorship of Dove Award winner Mark Hayes in 2002 and 2004.
Courtney has maintained a prolific publishing record, reaching 100 titles by 2009 and surpassing 350 by 2017. Based in Columbia, Tennessee, she continues to compose full time while maintaining an active private teaching studio in piano and composition and serving as a church accompanist across traditional and contemporary settings.
Why we love this
Courtney's setting captures genuine tenderness without sentimentality. The text-music relationship honors both the poetry and the singers, giving SSA voices material that feels substantial and emotionally honest rather than precious. This lands solidly in the middle ground where your singers feel respected and your audience feels moved.
What to expect
Quiet contemplation meets genuine affection. The music unfolds like petals, delicate but never fragile, inviting singers and listeners into a space of recognition and appreciation. There's warmth here without oversaturation, and sincerity without theatrical gesture.
Who it's for
SSA choirs of high school through adult levels seeking repertoire that honors both maturity and accessibility. Groups looking for a secular piece with emotional depth will find this especially rewarding; it works equally well for spring and fall concerts or as part of a friendship or nature-themed program.
How to get the most out of it
- Allow the slower passages room to breathe; resist the urge to fill silence with tempo momentum. Courtney's pacing invites stillness.
- Balance the sopranos and altos carefully so the upper voices don't overwhelm the middle line where much of the harmonic color lives.
- Connect the text naturally across phrases rather than emphasizing internal punctuation. Let the thought carry through for maximum emotional impact.
- Use the PianoTrax accompaniment (00-35870) in rehearsal to anchor your singers' parts and establish the harmonic language early.
How to use it
Pair this with other Courtney compositions or complementary SSA repertoire for a cohesive set that showcases your singers' lyrical control. The tender character makes it an ideal closer for a concert or a gentle transition piece between contrasting selections. It also serves well as a feature for a spring or end-of-year performance where reflection fits the occasion.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing three-part harmony with secure voice independence
- Shaping longer phrases with minimal dynamic marking and maximum musical intention
- Interpreting poetic text through subtle vocal coloring and vowel placement
- Sustaining emotional connection across passages of moderate vocal range