Description

I AM is a singing meditation. The piece is arranged for 7-part women’s choir, cajon, and solo voice. The difficulty is medium to advanced. Duration ~ 4:05.

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I AM is both a piece that honors the individual and the whole. It is meant to affirm an individual’s worth, as well as the whole collective. When a choir prepares for a performance, they rehearse a piece dozens if not hundreds of times. I wanted the experience of rehearsing I AM to be an ongoing declaration of the singer’s value. Therefore, every phrase in this piece is an affirmation. When a singer finds themselves singing the piece outside of rehearsal, they will be singing words that are positive and affirming.

Musically, I wanted this piece to mirror life. I AM is both complex, with its 7-part vocal split, contrasting rhythms, and varying accents, yet simple in its repetition, lyrics, and tonality. Each of the 7 parts sings a unique affirmation throughout the piece. They are simple statements like, “I am enough” and “I am love,” but can hold so much complexity depending on an individual’s relationship with the statement. In the middle of the piece, there is an aleatoric section where each singer contributes their unique affirming statement. It creates a chaotic building of sound before coming together for the first and only time in the piece to sing “I AM” as a whole choir in block chords. It is one of my favorite moments in the piece because simple and complex are just a beat apart.

Generously commissioned by the Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus

Vocal Demo: