Tricksters: AATBBB, a cappella

Bingham creates a narrative arc that unfolds through contrasting musical characters, each trickster voice emerging distinctly within the a cappella texture. The piece balances contemporary harmonic language with clear melodic profiles, making it rewarding to rehearse and genuinely entertaining to perform rather than puzzle through.

Tricksters unfolds as a cosmic debate rendered in sound. Ancient mythological voices jostle against one another with humor and cunning, building energy and complexity as each figure stakes a claim. The work moves between moments of lyrical beauty and jagged, competitive utterance, creating a soundworld that feels both contemporary and timeless.

This work suits advanced choral ensembles comfortable with contemporary harmonic language and willing to engage with narrative interpretation. University and professional choirs seeking secular repertoire that entertains audiences and offers sophisticated musical substance will find this piece particularly valuable.

• Establish each trickster's musical personality early in rehearsal by having different voice sections lead their material separately before combining voices. This builds ensemble awareness of the narrative rather than treating the work as a texture exercise.
• Attend closely to the AATBarBarB voicing; the duplication of second tenor and baritone voices creates specific harmonic densities that shift the balance of the chord. Avoid letting lower voices sink into a generic bass line.
• Balance clarity of text with the contemporary harmonic language. This piece benefits from projection without shouting; clean articulation and attention to vowel uniformity within sections carries meaning more effectively than volume.
• Shape phrasing around the competitive dialogue between tricksters rather than following bar lines. Where voices overlap or interrupt one another, let that dramatic tension guide your breath placement and release timing.

Program this as a centerpiece of a concert exploring mythology across cultures, or pair it with other secular a cappella works to create a program around narrative and character. Its substantial length and sophisticated content reward a listening audience paying full attention; it works equally well as a concert opener that establishes an ensemble's ambition or a highlight that demonstrates stylistic range.

• Balancing contemporary harmonic language with textual clarity in an a cappella setting
• Sustaining individual voice character within a six-part texture
• Coordinating overlapping entrances and dramatic interruptions across multiple voice parts
• Interpreting narrative and character nuance through musical phrasing rather than explicit staging