There Is a Melody: Unison/2-Part Choral Octavo

Bright, optimistic, and playfully baroque. The piece bounces along with melodic clarity and harmonic lightness, evoking the orderliness and joy of the baroque period while remaining entirely modern in its accessibility. Singers will feel the lift in the music and the genuine pleasure in describing how melody shapes our lives.

This octavo works beautifully for middle and high school choirs, community ensembles, and church choirs seeking accessible but musically substantive repertoire. Directors can teach it quickly, which makes it ideal for programs already juggling multiple pieces or ensemble levels.

• Lean into the baroque articulation with gentle separation between notes; this keeps the melody dancing without sounding disconnected.
• Balance the two parts carefully during the few moments they divide so neither voice gets buried; unison passages should feel unified, not sparse.
• Let the lyrics drive your phrasing rather than waiting for phrase marks; this keeps the music conversational and prevents it from feeling stilted.

This piece thrives as a program closer or a changeup between heavier selections. Its affirmative message about music makes it especially fitting for concerts celebrating the arts, school music appreciation events, or community performances where you want to send the audience out energized.

• Baroque stylistic awareness and articulation
• Part independence while maintaining ensemble unity
• Text delivery in narrative-driven music
• Sight-reading 2-part writing with unison sections