A Moment

It seems that so many of us are constantly in a hurry. In a hurry to school, running errands, or trying to get from point A to point B. While routine can be a good thing, the hustle and bustle of everyday life can also easily blind us from enjoying the countless beautiful things that surround each day. Every once in a while, it pays to slow down and appreciate the beautiful things in our lives. Many of them are also simple – like a flower, a smile, or even the common sounds we hear in nature. It can be surprisingly refreshing to pay attention to such things. "A Moment" reminds us to slow down, take a moment, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

The song can be sung with or without a soloist. We recorded it both ways. Choose whichever works best for you. We also have two versions of the accompaniment track – one with a solo cello (measures 3-24), and the other with the cello section throughout. The solo cello version pairs well with the vocal solo. The non-solo versions, as well as a rehearsal track for part 2, are all available as web extras.

You may wish to introduce the song to your singers by first playing the accompaniment only version. It's worth it – the gentle piano and strings accompaniment is very pretty, and quite impactful.

While the vocal motif in measure 3 requires a little finesse, some practice of this measure with your singers will go a long way. A constant stream of eighth notes in the piano left hand will help guide your vocalists through the timing of the ritard/a tempo sections. The two vocal parts are homophonic, with part 2 (optional) entering at measure 25. Using just part 1 will work, but if you can do both, they sound wonderful together. This song will be a beautiful addition to any concert throughout the year.