Sacrifices Made

"Sacrifices Made" is a very organic piece. So organic in fact, that its arrangement incorporates only acoustic stringed instruments. You'll hear a hammer dulcimer, acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, acoustic bass, and a string section. The purpose of this folk style song is to honor our veterans. It focuses on the sacrifices they made by intentionally choosing to step up when duty called. It might generate some good discussion to call to mind what thoughts and emotions our veterans might have experienced as they considered the possibility that they would be "giving all" as they made their choices to serve.

The song form starts with two verses with a 2-beat feel kicking in at verse two. Next, we move to a bridge, a third verse, a second bridge, and end with verse four. We have a unison vocal part, separated in short phrases, and the melody, for the most part, moves up and down the scale. It's pretty easy to learn in that regard. But it is also fairly rangey, so be ready. Dynamically, it rides along at a mezzo forte, but the bridges will take you a notch higher naturally. Go with it.