The Crossing: Choral Octavo

The Crossing carries an unhurried, reflective quality that invites the listener inward. Moments of layered harmony suggest depth and searching, while harmonic movement feels purposeful rather than meandering.

Choirs looking for substantial concert or festival material that moves beyond novelty without demanding virtuosic technique. High school, community, and college ensembles will find something here that respects their musicianship.

• Establish a clear harmonic foundation in rehearsal by having sections sing their parts against a sustained bass line before adding text; this builds confidence in intonation.
• Pay attention to phrasing across bar lines rather than stopping at each one. The work breathes best when singers understand the larger narrative arc.
• Balance the desire for blend with the need for individual voice parts to project their melodic content. These are not interchangeable lines.

This work serves well as a standalone festival piece or as part of a program exploring secular themes. Its scale and character make it equally suitable as a concert closer or as a compelling centerpiece when paired with lighter opening selections.

• Sustaining independent melodic lines within a larger harmonic context
• Shaping long phrases without artificial breath breaks
• Balancing blend with clarity of individual voice parts
• Reading and maintaining proper intonation in extended harmonic progressions