This Nearly Was Mine: SATB Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement captures the vulnerable yearning of this ballad while giving all four voices meaningful material to sing. The a cappella texture strips away orchestral sentimentality and forces the choir to shape the emotional arc entirely through blend, dynamics, and phrase breathing, making this an excellent vehicle for teaching interpretive control in an intimate setting.

The piece unfolds with quiet longing and acceptance, moving through the specific sorrow of lost possibility without sliding into self pity. The absence of instruments makes every sustained vowel feel intimate, and the harmonic language supports introspection while avoiding melodrama.

This arrangement suits advanced high school choirs and college ensembles with strong intonation and comfort singing a cappella. Small, versatile groups will find particular value in the piece's modest page count and the opportunity to program a sophisticated standard without orchestral accompaniment requirements.

• Balance the alto and tenor lines carefully during sustained harmony passages; these inner voices often carry the harmonic weight and can easily overshadow the melodic line if not monitored throughout rehearsal.
• Treat the text as emotional autobiography rather than theatrical delivery. The restraint in vocal production actually deepens the pathos of what could have been.
• Shape phrases toward the highest note of each melodic fragment rather than ending predictably at phrase marks. This keeps the line alive even during moments of reflection.
• Blend vowels across the ensemble before adding vibrato, especially in slower sections where individual voices become more exposed without instrumental support.

Position this in a concert alongside other American songbook standards or as a poignant moment between lighter selections. The brevity and a cappella format make it excellent for pops concerts, holiday shows requiring elegant variety, or chamber choir recitals focused on art song literature.

• Intonation maintenance in a cappella four part writing
• Phrasing and breath management in legato ballad contexts
• Harmonic analysis of jazz influenced popular song
• Vowel blending and balance between independent melodic lines