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Fighting Over What We Believe
A bold meditation on political conflict, communication and compassion, with a compelling dialogue of voices, and a "call to action" refrain. The interplay between different sections of the choir reflects the dynamic relationship necessary for all difficult and important conversations.
Dialogue is a key element of this song. In the original version for youth and adult choirs, it works well for the two choirs learn their parts separately, combining them at 1 or 2 final rehearsals. In all the other versions, there are prominent soloists/small groups in all parts.
| Item | Instrumentation/Voicing | Duration | Level | Audio | Peruse | Delivery Method (Print vs. Digital) | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA-099-00 | SATB, SAB (youth choir), piano - Choral Score | 4' | M |
 |
Sheet Music | $3.00 | ||
| SEA-099-00DEL | SATB, SAB (youth choir), piano - Choral Score | 4' | M |
|
Licensed PDF | $3.00 | ||
| SEA-099-01 | SATB, soloists, piano - Choral Score | 4' | M | https://www.seafarerpress.com/sites/seafarerpress.advantagelabs.com/files/works_variant_audio_files/fighting_over_what_we_believe_satb_%26_soloists.mp3 |
|
Sheet Music | $3.00 | |
| SEA-099-01DEL | SATB, soloists, piano - Choral Score | 4' | M | https://www.seafarerpress.com/sites/seafarerpress.advantagelabs.com/files/works_variant_audio_files/fighting_over_what_we_believe_satb_%26_soloists.mp3 |
|
Licensed PDF | $3.00 | |
| SEA-099-02 | SSA, SAB (youth choir), piano - Choral Score | 5'30" | M | Sheet Music | $3.00 | |||
| SEA-099-02DEL | SSA, SAB (youth choir), piano - Choral Score | 5'30" | M | Licensed PDF | $3.00 | |||
| SEA-099-03 | SSA, soloists, piano - Choral Score | 4' | M | https://www.seafarerpress.com/sites/seafarerpress.advantagelabs.com/files/works_variant_audio_files/recording-fighting_over_what_we_believe_ssa.mp3 |
|
Sheet Music | $3.00 | |
| SEA-099-03DEL | SSA, soloists, piano - Choral Score | 4' | M | https://www.seafarerpress.com/sites/seafarerpress.advantagelabs.com/files/works_variant_audio_files/recording-fighting_over_what_we_believe_ssa.mp3 |
|
Licensed PDF | $3.00 |
This commission came with an exciting and irresistible mission: To compose a piece with social justice at its core, which youth and adult choirs could perform together. The church that commissioned the song knew my work already, so I’m sure they suspected that this mission would have me chomping at the bit. And because I already knew of the church’s commitment to unflinching dialogue and bold actions, I knew that this song’s hard edges and difficult questions would be welcome.
While this piece was still in its conceptual stage, Minnesota’s legislature was becoming increasingly polarized and paralyzed. Eventually this resulted in a full state government shutdown, foreshadowing the federal shutdown that would occur the following year. As I saw the suffering caused by this lack of bipartisan cooperation, I realized I need look no further for my social justice theme.
“Fighting Over What We Believe” became a meditation on conflict, communication and compassion, with a dialogue of many voices and a “call to action” refrain. The interplay between soloists and different sections of the choir reflects the dynamic relationship necessary for all difficult and important conversations.
"The choir begged me to come home and write you...WE LOVE IT!! It's a mighty piece, powerful and fun to sing." Nancy Grundahl, Director of Music, Mayflower UCC Church (Minneapolis, MN)
"I just think everyone on the whole planet needs to hear this wonderful text and music." Gwen McLeod Hall, Choral Music Faculty, NC Governor's School East
"The choir LOVES these lyrics!" David Glasgow, Director of Music, Unitarian Universalists of Cumberland Valley
"This piece brought tears to my ears. Thank you for your beautiful work." Linda Jo Reinhard (Portland OR)
SATB & SAB
Premiere: Choirs of Mayflower United Church of Christ / Nancy Grundahl (Minneapolis, MN)
Choir of UUs of the Cumberland Valley / David Glasgow (Boiling Spring, PA)
SSA & SAB
Premiere: University of Missouri-Columbia Women's Chorale with Columbia Independent School / Elizabeth Hogan McFarland (Columbia, MO)
SATB & soloists
Premiere: Choir of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville / Jason Shelton (Nashville, TN)
Arizona Unitarian Universalist Choral Festival / Elizabeth Alexander (Chandler, AZ)
Choir of Community Church of Chapel Hill / Glenn Mehrbach (Chapel Hill, NC)
Choir of First Congregational Church of Montclair / Julie Morgan (Montclair, NJ)
Choir of First Unitarian Society of Madison / Dan Broner (Madison, WI)
Choir of Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship / Tamara Marston (Ashland, OR)
Choir of St. Luke Presbyterian / David Lohman (Minnetonka, MN)
Choir of Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin / Shari Smagatz (Elgin, IL)
Choir of Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring / Michael Holmes (Silver Spring, MD)
Choir of UU Church of Vancouver / Patrick Scofield (Vancouver, WA)
Choir of UU Fellowship of the Peninsula / Janet Gecowets (Newport News, VA)
Choir of Valley Unitarian Universalist Church / Kellie Walker (Chandler, AZ)
Choir of Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation / Bertram Gulhaugen (Seattle, WA)
Choirs of First Parish of Sudbury & UU Church of Reading / Debra Morris-Bennett & Mary Cunningham (Sudbury, MA)
Des Moines Diversity Chorus / Julie Murphy (Des Moines, IA)
High School All-County Chorus, Rockingham County Schools / Gwen McLeod Hall (Reidsville, NC)
Pacific Northwest UU Music Festival Choir / Elizabeth Alexander (Shoreline, WA)
Rockingham County High School All-County Chorus / Gwen McLeod Hall (Reidsville, NC)
Social Justice Through Music Choral Festival Choir / Elizabeth Alexander (Tucson, AZ)
SSA & soloists
Premiere: Choir of First Congregational Church of Montclair / Julie Morgan (Montclair, NJ)Anna Crusis Women's Choir / Miriam Davidson (Philadelphia, PA)
Aurora Chorus / Joan Szymko (Portland, OR)
CHARIS, The Saint Louis' Womens Chorus / Stuart Chapman Hill (Saint Louis, MO)
Indianapolis Women's Chorus / Meagan Johnson (Indianapoolis, IN)
North Carolina Governor's School East Chorus / Gwen McLeod Hall (Raleigh, NC)
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