We Are the Choir: SATB Choral Octavo
Based on March Militaire, Opus 51
Music by Franz Schubert / arr. with new words by Donald Moore
Item: 00-PO-0000442
$1.75
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
The music is Schubert's "March Militaire." The text is wonderfully witty. The result is an unforgettable novelty number for mixed choirs. Each section of the choir brags about being "the very best in town" or having "the finest sound" in the chromatic B section, before recapitulating the strong "we are the choir" hook. Funny (to hear) . . . and fun (to sing)! Featured on the "Hooray for Hollywood!" movement DVD #28868.
We Are the Choir: SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0000442
More about this title
About the Composer: Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) composed some of the most enduring songs and chamber works in the Classical and Romantic repertoire, yet he died at 31 with much of his genius still ahead of him. His gift for melody was almost unparalleled; his ability to shift harmonic color and emotional temperature within a single phrase set a standard for songwriting that composers are still learning from today.
Beyond the lieder for which he's beloved, Schubert wrote prolifically for ensemble and orchestra. His "March Militaire" demonstrates his skill at writing music with immediate appeal and structural clarity, making it a natural choice for arrangements that reach beyond the concert hall into popular musical contexts.
Why we love this
Donald Moore's arrangement takes a classical staple and transforms it into a vehicle for genuine ensemble joy. The wit of the new text lands hardest when singers commit fully to the braggadocio of their section; what could fall flat instead becomes infectious. This is the kind of piece that reminds choirs why they rehearse together in the first place.
What to expect
Strutting, self-assured, and delightfully tongue-in-cheek. The Schubert melody is dignified and march-like; the new text subverts that dignity with cheerful arrogance. Singers experience the pleasure of executing something musically sophisticated while delivering pure comedy.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for any SATB choir with solid blend and enough confidence to commit to character-driven singing. It's equally at home in a high school or college ensemble as it is in a community or church choir looking for a moment of levity in a concert.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the humor without oversinging it. Each section's boasts in the B section should feel conversational and spirited, not theatrical or forced.
- Lock the rhythmic precision of the main "we are the choir" hook across all four parts. The humor depends on the phrase landing with unanimous punch.
- Shape the chromatic movement in the B section carefully so the key changes feel like they're building tension rather than getting muddled. Sopranos and altos especially need clean articulation here.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to lock tempos and cues during early rehearsals, then gradually transition to unaccompanied runs so the choir builds ownership of the pulse.
How to use it
Program this in the second half of a concert when the audience is warmed up and receptive to surprise. It pairs beautifully with other masterwork arrangements or with a program that mixes classical repertoire with novelty or contemporary numbers, especially if you're already exploring lighter, character-driven choral music.
Skills your students will build
- Text clarity and diction in rapid passages
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated and march-like figures
- Chromatic voice leading and harmonic awareness
- Dramatic interpretation and commitment to character
- Ensemble blend across sections with contrasting text and character