What You Say (And What You Do): 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

The title suggests irony and introspection, and the music mirrors that tension through jazz voicings that feel modern yet grounded. There's an easy sophistication here, a sense of conversation rather than proclamation.

Intermediate to advanced mixed choirs looking to expand beyond traditional concert fare. This piece works well for groups comfortable with jazz vocabulary and ready to explore contemporary secular texts with harmonic sophistication.

• Pay attention to the lyrical content as your starting point for phrasing; the jazz idiom works best when text clarity remains the priority, not the swing feel.
• Balance the three parts carefully in rehearsal by sectioning individually first, then layering pairs before bringing all three together.
• Consider recording a rough take early to hear how the parts interact; jazz voicings can sound thin in the moment but bloom when blended properly.
• Let the rhythm section (if using accompaniment) anchor the groove while your choir stays rhythmically flexible; precision here matters more than perfect ensemble tightness.

Pair this with other contemporary secular works to build a concert theme around authenticity and communication, or use it as a palette cleanser between heavier classical or spiritual repertoire. Its 10-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a set without monopolizing rehearsal time.

• Jazz voicing and harmony (extended chords, tritones)
• Rhythmic independence within a swing feel
• Three-part blend and balance
• Text interpretation in contemporary idiom
• Flexible intonation across jazz harmonic movement