This Shall Be for Music: 2-Part / SSA Choral Octavo
Words by Robert Louis Stevenson, music and additional words by Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid
Item: 00-PO-0001325
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Robert Louis Stevenson's beloved poem is artfully set with a lyrical melody, a flowing piano accompaniment, and a warm sentiment. Cue-sized middle notes are optional, but offer the opportunity for rich 3-part sonorities throughout. Accompaniment available on PianoTrax 4 CD (00-35870).
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001325
More about this title
About the Composer: Mary Donnelly
Mary Donnelly grew up in Reno, Nevada, and studied English and French at the University of Nevada, Reno. During her undergraduate years, she organized children's choruses and discovered her passion for music education, leading her to pursue formal teacher training. She earned a Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a focus on integrating arts across the curriculum.
Donnelly spent thirty years teaching general music and choir in the Washoe County School District, retiring as an active classroom educator. In 1985, while team-teaching sixth grade music with George L. O. Strid, she began a collaborative songwriting partnership that has produced over two hundred songs and twenty-five musicals. She is a member of ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP and continues to live in Reno with her husband.
Why we love this
Donnelly and Strid honor Stevenson's poem without overshadowing it, letting the text breathe through a flowing melody and supportive accompaniment. The optional cue-sized middle notes give you flexibility: build a lush three-part texture when your choir is ready, or keep the arrangement spare and focused for younger singers. The warmth and accessibility of this setting makes it a genuine pleasure to rehearse and perform.
What to expect
This is music that feels like a conversation with an old friend. The melody unfolds naturally over a piano accompaniment that flows like quiet conversation, and the overall mood is one of reflection and warmth. Stevenson's words find their truest expression in this setting.
Who it's for
Middle school and high school choirs looking for accessible, meaningful repertoire that respects both the poetry and the singers. The 2-Part and SSA voicings make this ideal for developing ensembles or for mixed groups working on unison and two-part singing.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the lyrical quality of the melody by shaping phrases musically rather than driving toward downbeats; let the piano's flowing accompaniment guide your phrasing.
- If adding the cue-sized middle notes, introduce them after the outer voices are secure and singing with confidence; balance is essential to maintain the song's intimacy.
- Connect with Stevenson's text emotionally and sing with genuine warmth; this piece rewards singers who understand and feel the sentiment behind the words.
How to use it
Pair this with other secular choral pieces centered on poetry or nature to build a thematic concert program. Its accessible length and contour make it an excellent choice for festival or contest submission, where judges appreciate sincerity and artistic restraint.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with lyrical phrasing and breath control
- Balancing treble voices in two-part and three-part textures
- Connecting text to musical expression
- Reading optional divisi parts and understanding cue-sized notation