Secular A Cappella Concert Music

With modern dissonance and free tonality, this entire piece drives toward the last line of the Stacy Gnall poem: "big brother, I am catching up to you." One long, rhythmic race, this selection will be a

Elegant simplicity is the hallmark of this shimmering setting of a favorite text: "Set me as a seal upon your heart ... for love is as strong as death." Straightforward rhythms, careful management of vocal

This contemporary a cappella concert setting of E.E. Cummings' poem is refreshingly different. Short solo lines weave throughout the vocal texture while everyone else sings backing syllables. Originally

This is a lively reimagining of the 19th-century American folk hymn that opens with a solo verse then proceeds with a soaring top melody supported by the rhythmic vocal accompaniment of the lower voices,

This contemporary a cappella arrangement of Marvin Gaye's popular and influential hit is funk and soul wrapped up in a timeless protest song. Featuring a soloist throughout, this rendition with close jazz

New York Voices hit a home run with their beautiful and poignant rendition of this song. This arrangement is an excellent singable adaptation for choirs featuring very close harmonies that reflect the

This song of happiness and celebration of the human experience is set in a minor key. The harmonic language acknowledges that we can't have joy without recognizing its opposite. The undertones point out

Inspired by the text of poet E. Pauline Johnson, Sarah Quartel has created an energetic and fun piece for a cappella voices. Melodic elements and counter melodies are shared between the voices in a

Written in answer to a call for connection in troubled times, this song is about persistence, community, and moving ahead. "One foot in front of the other" is a metaphor for determination and forward

With text taken directly from Shakespeare's famous Sonnet 18, this approachable yet moving a cappella SATB arrangement is Perfect for a Shakespeare Day performance or nearly any other performance

These three pieces are translated into English but are based on Japanese poems by Yamabe no Akahito, Sakanoue no Korenori, and Takayama Sozei. Creating a quiet winter soundscape with tight cluster

This beautiful ballad, arranged for The King's Singers, has a text that speaks of hope for a better and sweeter world where war and division are distant memories. Filled with characteristically rich and

With a text adapted from the Bible, the composer has crafted a universal statement of peace. The lovely harmonic moments in the choral writing establish a beautiful foundation for the soaring oboe

This musical setting of the Thomas Dekker poem employs warm, lush harmonic language along with a lovely lyrical treatment of this familiar bedtime poem. This wonderful addition to treble literature was

One of Canada's most treasured poets, Archibald Lampman writes of the urgent need for us all to be respectful and mindful of the fragility of Mother Earth. This socially conscious text is set for mixed

Using the theme of Longfellow's poem Snow-flakes, the poetic structure is reflected in the musical phrase structure, with the resolution withheld until the end of each stanza. The

This piece from the set Madrigals for the Seasons conjures up vivid images of autumn: the fading of summer flowers, the colors of the leaves, the browning of the fields. The musical setting is

This piece is a paean to the glories of summer. Images of nature are illuminated, climaxing in the splendor of God's sun: "His Caravan of Red." The setting strives to capture the pleasure of the

Based on an Inuit proverb, this reflective piece sets a mood of contemplation by using a leisurely text rhythm and lush chords. The proverb's counterpoint to the title is that stars are our

The text is by Rabindranath Tagore, a native of Calcutta whose poetic songs were viewed as spiritual and mercurial, but not well known outside Bengal. The mystical and quiet opening gives way

From the Gounod opera "Faust." Here, young Valentin's heartfelt prayer abounds with conflicting emotions, offering singers an opportunity to consider the devotional yet enthusiastic text and operatic style

Walt Whitman wrote this poem near the end of his life as he was reflecting on his past and preparing for physical death. The music reflects this idea, as it is both meditative, with passages of quiet

Commissioned by the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club, here is a passionate tour de force for tenor-bass choirs. Full of rubato and with a text that is powerful while at the same time sensitive, this

Here's a novelty piece that will steal the show! Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is set for a cappella voices with some creative vocables, style, and a touch of humor. The TTTBB arrangement is the actual