Wings: SATB Choral Octavo

Strommen understands what moves a choir and what moves an audience. Wings carries the emotional weight of a contemporary anthem without sacrificing singability, making it equally rewarding for accomplished ensembles and developing choirs. The piece's accessibility and inspirational text position it naturally alongside graduation repertoire that actually endures beyond a single spring concert.

Wings breathes with quiet confidence. The text's invitation to soar over green fields and blue skies creates a sense of gentle possibility rather than triumph, allowing singers to invest emotionally without oversinging. The piece unfolds with the thoughtful pacing of a classic, giving every section room to land and resonate.

This piece suits high school and college choirs of intermediate to advanced ability, though Strommen's straightforward compositional approach makes it accessible to developing ensembles as well. Directors programming graduation events, spring concerts, or occasions celebrating aspiration and growth will find Wings particularly well-suited to the moment. The accessible range and text resonance also serve faith-based ensembles and community choirs seeking contemporary material with warmth and immediacy.

• Establish the character of uplift from the opening phrase. The text suggests movement and freedom, so let singers experience that spaciousness in their vocal production rather than pressing for volume.
• Balance transparency across all four parts. Strommen's writing often highlights inner voices; resist the urge to anchor the piece entirely in soprano melody and bass support.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to build secure harmonic foundation during early rehearsals, then work toward independence from it in later runs-through.

Program Wings as a centerpiece for spring concerts or graduation ceremonies, where its inspirational message feels earned rather than imposed. It works equally well paired with other contemporary choral works by Strommen or placed alongside a cappella selections and traditional repertoire to show breadth of style. The piece's moderate length and emotional clarity also make it suitable for regional festival or competition programming where accessibility meets artistic substance.

• sustained vocal phrasing across longer lines
• four-part harmonic blend and balance
• expressive interpretation of text painting (musical imagery of flight and landscape)
• confidence in SATB independence without doubling
• collaborative singing in contemporary secular literature