This Shall Be for Music: 2-Part / SSA Choral Octavo

Donnelly and Strid have created something that feels effortless to teach but sounds polished in performance. The optional cue notes give you genuine flexibility: you can shape this as a pure 2-part piece, build it toward fuller three-part harmony, or adjust on the fly depending on your singers' readiness. Pairing a Robert Louis Stevenson poem with a lyrical melody and flowing accompaniment elevates the repertoire choices available at this level.

Warm and reflective, with a melody that sits naturally in the voice and invites singers to connect emotionally with Stevenson's words. The flowing piano accompaniment creates a gentle, supportive landscape that keeps the focus on the singers' lines without overwhelming them.

This works beautifully for middle school choirs seeking literature that combines poetic substance with accessible voicing. It also suits elementary upper grades and emerging high school singers who need material that sounds mature without demanding advanced technique. The optional three-part texture makes it versatile across ability levels.

• Experiment with when you introduce the optional middle notes. You might keep them out entirely for the first run-through, then layer them in section by section as confidence grows.
• Balance the vocal line against the flowing piano accompaniment by having singers think of their phrases as melodic, not rhythmic; let the piano's momentum carry the harmony underneath.
• Shape the text through the melody rather than forcing dramatic interpretation. Stevenson's language does the emotional work, so invite singers to listen to how the music mirrors the poem's sentiment.
• If using the PianoTrax accompaniment, rehearse with it early enough that singers internalize the tempo and feel before the final run-through.

This pairs well with other secular choral selections for a concert focused on poetry and literature. It also makes a strong festival or contest choice, particularly for programs highlighting accessible but substantive middle school or beginning high school repertoire. Consider programming it early in your concert to establish a lyrical tone.

• Singing sustained phrases with consistent breath support
• Blending treble voices in two-part and three-part textures
• Interpreting literary texts through melodic phrasing
• Balancing vocal tone with piano accompaniment
• Reading optional divisi notation and making in-the-moment voicing choices