What a Song Can Do: SoundTrax Digital Download

$29.99 USD

What a Song Can Do: SoundTrax Digital Download

Words and music by Raphael Fusco

Item: 00-A-00016652

$29.99

Digital Download

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

SKU: 00-A-00016652

More about this title

About the Composer: Raphael Fusco

Raphael Fusco approaches composition as a bridge between centuries. An Italian-American creator whose work spans opera, orchestral music, chamber pieces, and art song, he has earned recognition from major institutions and festivals worldwide, including the American Prize, the Fyfe Choral Composition Award, and commissions from ensembles like the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the Cecilia Chorus of New York. His music has premiered at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and venues across Europe and Asia.

Beyond the page, Fusco maintains an active presence as a keyboardist and conductor, having performed with the New York Philharmonic and toured alongside GRAMMY Award-winning artists. He founded and directs the Composer Institute at Opera Lucca and has taught masterclasses at institutions including the Sorbonne, Manhattan School of Music, and Boston University. His scores are published by Universal Edition Vienna, Alfred Music, and other major houses.

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Why we love this

Fusco writes for the voice with intelligence and generosity. A piece called "What a Song Can Do" from a composer of his stature signals something worth attention, and the recorded accompaniment removes barriers to performance whether you have piano access or not.

What to expect

A piece invested in what language and melody can accomplish together. The title itself suggests reflection on music's power, and Fusco's harmonic language balances accessibility with genuine musical substance.

Who it's for

High school, college, and adult choirs preparing music for concert or festival performance. Singers who respond to contemporary compositional craft without atonality or extreme difficulty.

How to get the most out of it

Listen through the accompaniment track multiple times before rehearsal so you hear the harmonic language and can anchor your singers to it.
Pay attention to how the text sets; Fusco's melodic writing tends to follow natural speech patterns rather than force the words to fit a predetermined shape.
Use the recorded accompaniment in rehearsal to lock balances early, then strip it away for the final rehearsals to build independence.

How to use it

Pair this with contrasting styles from different eras to show how contemporary composers continue traditions of emotional directness. The recorded accompaniment makes it feasible as a festival entry or a concert work even when rehearsal time is limited.