We Sing So All Can Hear The Story!: SATB Choral Octavo

Besig and Price have written a piece that announces its purpose right in the title: this is about using music as a tool for meaningful communication. The song-like melody and straightforward harmonic language make it immediately singable without sacrificing genuine musicality. You'll find this works as either a concert opener that sets an uplifting tone or a closing number that sends audiences home with a message worth remembering.

Warm, direct, and purposeful. The writing invites singers into a shared moment of communication rather than asking them to show off their technical abilities. You emerge from performing it having said something that matters.

Any SATB choir seeking music with purpose and accessibility. This works equally well for church volunteer choirs, secondary school groups building concert programs, or college ensembles looking for repertoire that speaks directly to audiences.

• Balance the message with the music by allowing the text to drive your phrasing; resist the urge to oversing what's already clear in the words.
• Shape the dynamic arc so that key textual moments land with impact; identify the story's turning points and build toward them.
• Keep diction clean and unified across all four parts, especially on consonants, so every listener hears the full meaning without effort.

Open a concert with this to establish connection with your audience from the first notes, or save it for the final piece when singers have warmed up and can deliver the message with full presence. It pairs well in programs exploring themes of unity, service, or social awareness.

• Clear diction and text projection in four-part harmony
• Phrase shaping that serves lyrical meaning
• Balancing part independence with ensemble blend
• Interpreting music that prioritizes communication over technical display