Secular Unaccompanied Concert Music

"I am you are me...." This innovative original uses a clever text and pop-style music to create an environment of togetherness among members of the choir. Community - that's what it's all about. Each vocal

A joy-filled journey through the many gifts that singing brings us! Memorable lines and contemporary harmonies are backed by energetic percussion for shaker, tambourine, and cajon. Easy to learn and

Setting inspiring words by James Weldon Johnson, this work is poignant and stirring, encouraging singers and listeners to reflect on the challenges of present times and to move forward with courage and

This stunningly expressive work was commissioned by a number of high school choir programs forced to cancel concerts due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Inspiring and reflective, the rich harmonies capture both a

Sara Teasdale's lyric poem looks to the stars for serenity and promise, and this handsome setting is superbly crafted by noted composer Frank Ticheli. Tasteful harmonic suspensions and rich choral textures

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 energetic and rhythmic setting of the Sara Teasdale text is a true standout! With both a contemporary a cappella feel and artistic choral integrity, this is a piece that directors will love teaching,

From the Grammy-nominated work The Lost Birds, this simple melody inspired by children's songs is a setting of Sara Teasdale's poem "In the End." Showcasing her signature pairing of nihilism

From the Grammy-nominated work The Lost Birds, this setting of a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay ends the first half of The Lost Birds. Told from the point of view of the poet, it starts with the

From the Grammy-nominated work The Lost Birds, this selection is a setting of Emily Dickinson's poem "The Saddest Noise, the Sweetest Noise". It begins the story of The Lost Birds in spring:

This lovely setting of a message of love and peace is in an accessible a cappella format suitable for any mixed ensemble. It can be used in both sacred and school settings, with an original text that will

This is a richly harmonic setting of a Christina Rossetti poem about holding on to the memories of one who has departed.

An exquisite setting of Percy Shelley's famous poem written for the vocal group Apollo5. The accessible dissonances enhance the beauty for both the choir and the listener.

The Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey is now marked with cemeteries; particularly striking are the graves of Australian and New Zealand infantry which are marked with epitaphs provided by the families

William Wordsworth's text shimmers in this a cappella setting with poignant imagery and gently moving clusters and suspensions in the harmony. "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: the Soul that rises

The shades of Finzi and Vaughan Williams are strongly present in these three delightful unaccompanied choral settings, and yet the style and execution are wholly Rutter's own. O Mistress Mine is a

This is an homage to the island of Omey in County Galway, Ireland, done in a modern Celtic and contemporary a cappella style. With background harmonies that weave and flow around the melody, the vocal

Written as a tribute for a loved one's wedding, this passionate text from the Song of Solomon is captured beautifully in the music.

This selection is about a transgender woman's dream in which she feels that no matter her struggles, everything will be okay. With inspirational lyrics, "I will not let fear become my beacon," this piece is

Given everything our communities, choir, and world have experienced recently, we could all use a bit of light! This music encourages us to tend to our hearts and to others, remembering that each of us has

A powerful reflection on personal strength and resolve, this song blends poet Evelyn Dudley's Southern tenacity and hardy faith with composer Elizabeth Alexander's Appalachian roots and musical vision. The

With a multicultural flair, this energetic and rhythmic work conveys a singular force for change. Combining texts from Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Matthew 5:15 with original lyrics, the

A cry for peace in a world torn by war, this poignant a cappella setting of an original text is filled with striking dynamic contrasts. "Sing, Be, Live, See... This dark stormy hour, the wind, it stirs. The

Dvorak is well known for his folk song settings, but this lullaby is his own tune - and his earthy roots emerge from the melody of this secular part song. A great selection for more advanced ensembles.