Dancing Songs

This set of pieces by Alice Parker to poetry by Nancy Wood was commissioned by the American Composers Forum for the ChoralQuest program allowing middle school choirs to discover music of varying moods and rhythms. The first in the set, "What I Am I Must Become" creates a thoughtful quiet mood through four riddle-like statements. "Song Woman" celebrates the voices and lives of women through cheerful, lighter motion and the final song "When Trouble Comes to Me" gives voice to the young men, gathering up their energy and strength and offering a positive outlet for their emotion. Free interdisciplinary curriculum for the piece is available for download at