Still I Rise Cover Image

Still I Rise: Choral SoundPax

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Still I Rise Cover Image
Still I Rise: Choral SoundPax

Still I Rise: Choral SoundPax

From Like Dust I Rise (A Choral Song Cycle)

Text by Maya Angelou, music by Mark Hayes

Item: 00-DIGPX00054
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Description
Maya Angelou's most popular poem about triumph over adversity comes brilliantly to life in this vivid setting by Mark Hayes. The bright shuffle tempo and bluesy piano riffs perfectly embody Angelou's strength, courage, and determination to rise above. One of the most uplifting choral selections of our time! This is the final movement from the song cycle Like Dust I Rise.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Still I Rise: Choral SoundPax comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 58
UPC: 038081532141
SKU: 00-DIGPX00054
Instrumentation: SoundPax

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Hayes

Mark Hayes

Mark Hayes stands among the most prolific composers in contemporary choral and vocal music, with over 1,750 published works across genres ranging from sacred to secular, jazz to Broadway. A concert pianist and conductor trained at Baylor University, Hayes has guest-conducted at Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall, premiering major works including his Requiem at Lincoln Center in 2013 and conducting it again in Rome as part of the Vatican-sponsored Festival Pro Musica E Arte Sacra in 2014.

Beyond the concert hall, Hayes has composed for musical theatre, orchestrated the hit musical Madame Buttermilk, and created the score for Civil War Voices, which garnered six awards at the Midtown International Theatre Festival. His personal mission centers on creating beautiful music across all idioms, with particular passion for the piano; he maintains over 100 piano books in print. In 2010, Baylor University recognized his contributions to Christian music with the Award for Exemplary Leadership.

Why we love this

Hayes captures the raw emotional power of Angelou's words without sentimentality. The shuffle groove and bluesy piano language give the piece contemporary edge while the choral writing remains singable and dramatically coherent, making it equally effective in concert settings and community gatherings.

What to expect

The music radiates warmth and determination without sentimentality. Bluesy piano riffs support the choir with contemporary swing, creating a sound that feels both rooted in African American musical traditions and strikingly contemporary. Angelou's words land with power when set against this bright, propulsive backdrop.

Who it's for

This setting works for choirs seeking contemporary secular repertoire that speaks to themes of resilience and social consciousness. High school, college, and adult community choirs will find it accessible and meaningful, especially those comfortable with gospel-inflected rhythms and modern harmonic language.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock into the shuffle rhythm early in rehearsals; the groove is the foundation that carries Angelou's message.
  • Shape the text with conversational phrasing rather than hymn-like restraint. This poem demands vocal confidence and presence.
  • Balance the recorded accompaniment carefully so the piano's bluesy inflections support without overwhelming the choir.
  • Attend to dynamic contrast within phrases. Hayes writes moments of intensity and moments of reflection; honor both for maximum dramatic impact.

How to use it

Program this as a concert closer or centerpiece on a program celebrating human dignity and social themes. It pairs naturally with other secular works addressing resilience and community, and its uplifting character makes it effective for benefit concerts, peace and justice events, or graduations.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with rhythmic precision in a shuffle groove
  • Balancing choral blend with conversational text delivery
  • Interpreting bluesy harmonic language and contemporary vocal phrasing
  • Responding to recorded accompaniment while maintaining independence
  • Building confidence in performing texts of social and personal significance

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