The Lesson: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00265237
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Description
With words adapted from a traditional Native American text, this is a work of mystery and power, telling the story of hunter and hunted. It may be performed with piano only or with the optional flute, cello and percussion for added color.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00265237
More about this title
About the Arranger: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and later earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he subsequently taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. His performance credentials include solo recitals across the United States and Mexico, a featured appearance with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra following his Nina Plant Wideman Competition win, and a nationally broadcast recital from Ex-convento del Carman. Today he balances concert performances with a deep commitment to church music, composing and arranging works heard in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to hundreds of congregations throughout the United States and Canada.
Based in Austin, Texas, Martin has built a reputation for the breadth and inventiveness of his compositional voice. His output spans concert repertoire, sacred music, and educational works that challenge and engage musicians at multiple levels. He continues to compose actively while performing in churches and at conferences dedicated to church music ministry.
Why we love this
Martin's arrangement respects the source material's spiritual weight while making the piece accessible to ensembles of varying size. The flexibility of the orchestration (piano-only or with flute, cello, and percussion) means you can program this regardless of your instrumental resources, yet the optional colors add genuine textural sophistication without feeling like an afterthought.
What to expect
A work that carries quiet intensity beneath its surface. The Native American text grounds the piece in something ancient and primal, while Martin's harmonic language suggests mystery and motion without sacrificing clarity. There is restraint here, a kind of focused energy that builds power through precision rather than volume.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking a concert or festival piece that combines literary depth with musical substance. The adaptable instrumentation makes it suitable for high school, college, and community ensembles, regardless of whether you have a full instrumental section available.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the narrative between vocal and instrumental lines; the story lives in the text, so allow the accompaniment to support rather than compete with the singers' delivery.
- If using the optional instruments, rehearse the flute and cello passages separately from the choir first to establish clean articulation before layering everything together.
- Pay attention to dynamic shape across the entire arc; pieces rooted in storytelling demand pacing that mirrors the tension between hunter and hunted.
- Experiment with the optional percussion sparingly; these colors work best when they punctuate key moments rather than sustaining throughout.
How to use it
Feature this on a concert pairing traditional or folk-inspired works with contemporary pieces; its literary foundation and optional orchestration make it a natural bridge between cultural traditions and modern concert settings. The relative brevity and narrative focus also serve well as a program opener that establishes tone and draws audiences in immediately.
Skills your students will build
- Vocal storytelling and narrative phrasing within choral texture
- Ensemble balance between choir and optional instrumental colors
- Dynamic control and shaping across extended musical phrases
- Collaborative rehearsal techniques when adding optional flute, cello, and percussion parts