This Is The Day: Unison Choral Octavo

Direct and affirming. This piece carries conviction without heaviness; it sounds like a group speaking together with intention rather than performing. The feel is celebratory yet grounded, making it equally at home in formal concert settings or intimate gathering spaces.

This works for choirs of any size and experience level, from elementary music classes building confidence in unison singing to adult community choirs programming seasonal repertoire. The unison voicing removes harmonic complexity while the 17 pages suggest room for meaningful musical development and text exploration.

• Anchor the piece in a steady, unhurried tempo. This text benefits from clarity, and rushing undermines the declarative strength of the opening.
• Keep the dynamic shape modest and organic. Resist the urge to swell on every phrase; let the text itself drive the musical moments.
• Maintain consistent vowel shaping across the entire choir, especially important in unison where blend and pitch security depend entirely on unified voice production.

Pair this with a contrasting piece that features harmonies to highlight the particular strength of unison writing. It also serves as an excellent anchor for a set of seasonal music or as a strong, substantive opening that sets a reflective but confident tone for the rest of the concert.

• Sustaining pitch and intonation in unison over longer phrases
• Musical phrasing and text expression without harmonic support
• Blend and ensemble listening across an entire choir
• Understanding how unison creates clarity and impact