Songs about the Human Experience

This Chorus America commission is an accessible work for treble or mixed choir which explores the real-life consequences of bullying - evoking a spirit of empathy not with sugar-coated niceties but with

"What will I do with the portion given to me? I will sing." This fantastic work, written in a gospel style with an ecumenical text that challenges each of us to make the most of the lives we've been given,

A big, bold piano introduction sets the stage for this powerful and inspirational song. "Let the harmonies of freedom ring" is a message for this time and all times. The gospel feel of this original song

This unaccompanied piece contrasts a simple unison motif with quick ostinato in the lower voices. The homophonic refrain clearly declaims, "All forces have been steadily employed to complete

This musical "instruction manual" is as whimsical as the singing planet which inspired it. A genre-defying showpiece evoking both the ethereal and the "grooving", How To Sing Like a Planet offers up equal

With text adapted from Walt Whitman's Song of the Open Road, this boisterous original concert work is brimming with rhythmic excitement! From the riveting dynamics to its strong lyrical message,

This three-movement suite for tenor-bass choirs is intended to elevate conversations regarding mental health. The composer brings his sense of the dramatic to this powerful score. The first movement,

This song by Francis Smith Thomas, a close friend of the Martin Luther King, Jr. family, was inspired by the words of a woman who participated in the Montgomery bus boycott, a pivotal event in the civil

From poet Linda Studley comes an empowering text: "We are the ones who take the chance, who sing the song, who step the dance, who dare to try...." Treble choirs will revel in this setting of the text which

A simple expression of empathy for those less fortunate, Stephen Foster's song presents the universal message of perseverance through difficult times. A texture for soloist and choir accompanied by

Beautiful for treble choirs, this arrangement of Carnelia's solo song captures the dramatic and expressive elements of the melody and text. The lush accompaniment for piano or optional string quartet adds

Written in response to the gun violence against children, this penultimate movement from "The Unarmed Child" is deeply moving and brings a sense of healing and poignancy in the musical setting.

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

This a cappella original uses an uplifting text to express the joy of living life to the fullest. Using legato phrases, rubato, divisi, and jazz-influenced harmonies, the rich choral writing is emotional

A banjo-like piano accompaniment and expressive fiddle stylings lend folk authenticity to this plaintive and moving choral setting of Stephen Foster's classic song. The text is set simply but fully, with

"When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone... the work of Christmas begins." This setting of a poem by Howard Thurman, presented as an ethereal benediction, is truly a

Commissioned for the Bach Children's Chorus, this setting of inspiring poetry espouses the human connection so essential to us all: "the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice sing on in the soul

This piece, which sets the words of a beloved school administrator, opens with an optional solo and then erupts with joy and passion. Independent vocal lines create lovely cascading moments, and the mixed

Originally written by James Taylor for the musical "Working," this piece tells the story of a young woman trapped in a difficult life of physical labor. While this song is from the 1970s, it continues to

With a text inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, this a cappella piece uses changing meter and ethereal choral writing to create wonderful harmonic and melodic moments. Atmospheric and haunting,

A pictorial setting of a haunting poem by Greg DiMarco. Darkness and despair can follow us each day, and it is important for us to "dream the sun, the stars, warmth, and joy." A flowing, expressive, and

This three-movement work for SSAATTBB choir and piano use the poems of the celebrated Indian poet Sarojini Naidu. The texts explore the nature of dreams both past and present. The incredible art-song

In this innovative arrangement, Stanley M. Hoffman takes Henry Purcell's most popular solo aria, Dido's Lament, from his opera Dido and Aeneas, and reimagines it as an a cappella work

This powerful message is about mustering the courage to leap from one stage of life into the next. Melodic lines are juxtaposed with a lively piano accompaniment creating bold expressiveness and strong