The Pattern: SSA Choral Octavo
Words and music by Kara Stacy Bedwell
Item: 00-PO-0007574
$2.50
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
This creative concert work uses sewing analogies to build a powerful metaphor of self-acceptance. Tailor-made for SSA singers, conversational rhythms and expressive vocal lines form a stunning tapestry of treble voices. Ms. Bedwell's buoyant piano accompaniment reflects the push and pull of trying to make yourself fit. At the emotional center of the piece, the singers implore "Let me be imperfect, and still call me beautiful, ‘cause I know I am beautiful!" A relatable text, a rewarding musical journey.
The Pattern: 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
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007574
More about this title
About the Composer: Kara Stacy Bedwell
Kara Stacy Bedwell holds degrees in Music Education from Florida Southern College and a Master's in Music Education from Florida State University. Her work as a choral composer centers on creating music that speaks directly to young singers, pairing accessible melodies with texts that resonate emotionally.
Bedwell's achievement as the 2020 winner of the Raymond Brock Memorial Student Composer's Competition through the American Choral Directors Association reflects her commitment to writing repertoire that engages and challenges treble ensembles. Based in Central Florida, she continues to develop a catalog of choral works rooted in thoughtful text selection and singable, memorable lines.
Why we love this
Bedwell writes with genuine understanding of what moves teenage singers. The sewing metaphor animates the entire piece without ever feeling forced, and the emotional payoff in that central plea for acceptance lands with real power. This is the kind of concert work that sticks with singers long after the performance ends.
What to expect
The piece unfolds like a personal conversation captured in music. Bedwell's melodies feel natural and conversational, supported by a piano part that dances and flexes around the singers' lines. There's honesty in the sound, building toward a moment of quiet defiance that feels earned rather than sentimental.
Who it's for
This piece belongs in any SSA program seeking meaningful concert repertoire with contemporary appeal. It works equally well for festival submissions and community concert programming where audiences appreciate both musical craft and emotional authenticity.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the conversational rhythms as a way to find natural phrasing rather than pushing for perfection in every note. The push-and-pull tension Bedwell builds musically supports the text's theme throughout.
- Balance the buoyancy of the piano accompaniment with the emotional weight of the lyrics, especially as the piece moves toward its climactic moment. Let the music breathe rather than rush.
- Explore the recorded accompaniment as a learning tool during early rehearsals to help singers internalize the rhythmic conversational quality and harmonic landscape before you add interpretive nuance.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece for a concert exploring themes of identity and belonging, pairing it with complementary repertoire that speaks to similar emotional terrain. Its 12-page length and concert designation make it ideal for spring programming or festival seasons where quality contemporary work adds depth to your season.
Skills your students will build
- Singing conversational, speech-like rhythms while maintaining musical line
- Balancing unison and divisi writing across three SSA parts
- Communicating emotional subtext through dynamic and textual nuance
- Responding to piano accompaniment that moves independently from vocal lines