The Wind: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Gardner writes choral music that finds the music inherent in language itself. The pairing of her melodic instinct with a carefully chosen literary text creates pieces that feel natural in the singers' mouths while offering genuine emotional depth, making rehearsal time rewarding for both ensemble and director.

The Wind carries lyrical beauty with an intimate, contemplative quality. The piece invites singers to inhabit the poetry, creating a performance that feels both grounded and expressive.

This choral octavo works for mixed ensembles at the middle school, high school, and adult community choir level. Singers appreciate Gardner's approachable melodic writing and meaningful text, while directors value the clarity of her voice leading and straightforward arrangement.

• Bring out the poetic quality of the text by thinking of phrases as lyric lines rather than musical phrases. Let the meaning guide your phrasing choices.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during early rehearsals to help singers hear their parts in context, but encourage independence as sectional work progresses.
• Attend to dynamics and breath points carefully. Gardner's writing often rewards subtle shaping that highlights the text's imagery.

This octavo fits naturally into concerts that feature American choral literature or programs exploring nature-inspired texts. It also pairs well with other Gardner choral works as part of a deeper dive into her compositional voice.

• Singing with text expression and poetic awareness
• Blending mixed voices in sustained, lyrical passages
• Shaping phrases according to literary meaning rather than harmonic structure