October

This thoughtful, Romantic poem is well within the understanding of early adolescents because it is a description of a pastoral scene in the country during the month of October. The arrangement allows a choral director to choose a masterful literary work skillfully set to music. Both the words and the music will awaken, expand, and enhance the aesthetic senses of a young singer. The piano accompaniment sensitively sets the mood for this piece about nature and it deepens the feeling one experiences during autumn in October. The piece is set in three-part variable voicing for a mixed choir; Parts I and II are written in the treble clef and Part III is written in the bass clef. Part II may be sung by girls or by cambiatas (boys in the first phase of vocal mutation). Part III is best sung by adolescent baritones (boys in the second phase of change). October may be sung a Capella or with the piano accompaniment provided in the score. All-boys voicing is TCB meaning either Treble, Cambiata, Adolescent Baritone, or Tenor (8va down), Cambiata, Baritone.