Merely Human (an original song for SATB a cappella) by Kirsten Duncan 4-Part - Digital Sheet Music
By Kirsten DuncanWords and music by Kirsten Duncan. Contemporary choral SATB, duration 3:00 mins. Score: A4, 8 pages (including covers) with piano reduction for rehearsal. Published by Shrub Creative. Item number 2025-05. ISMN 9790900969996. A solemn original song for mixed unaccompanied easy to intermediate choirs appealing for peace and kindness.I served in the Royal Australian Navy to defend people from the actions of aggressive leaders, but I wish there were no need for military forces. At heart, I am a pacifist and greatly admire the work of Musicians Without Borders and organisations strengthening democracy and diplomacy. Surely, there would be less violence in the world if people engaged in conversation to find commonalities and harmony. After all, we all bleed the same colour and are ultimately merely human. This solemn original work is scored for SATB voices in mostly D minor Dorian mode, modulating to A major for an uplifting climax. Led by the sopranos with the melody throughout, this short piece is suitable for easy to intermediate choirs. Conductors should draw out expressiveness through rubato tempo and shaped dynamics. Please ensure round, warm vowels, particularly pay attention to the articulation between adjacent vowels, eg “we all” as “weh / all” rather than “weeeyall”.‘Merely Human’ would provide a secular, English-language contrast to more traditional sacred pieces in a concert program themed around peace, diversity and humanity.Kirsten Duncan has had a lifelong passion for choral singing. Now based in Canberra, Australia, she has performed with Gaudeamus (Judith Clingan), Hamburg International School (ISH) Singers, the choirs of Christ Church St Laurence Sydney (Dr Neil McEwan), The Resonants (Helen Swan) and others. Kirsten started composing choral music in 2015 with a penchant for narrative a cappella works with an often quirky Australian flavour, contributing to the musical community that has been a stabilising thread throughout her life. Please register performances or recordings of this work with the appropriate performing rights body, and also visit shrubcreative.com.au to notify the composer and find more works by Kirsten Duncan. Thank you, and enjoy the music!Copyright © 2025 KIRSTEN DUNCAN. All rights reserved. A catalogue record for this work is available from the National Library of Australia.
Details
Summary
- Instrument:
- Choir
- Ensembles:
- 4-Part SATB A Cappella
- Genres:
- Spirituals 21st Century Multicultural
- Composers:
- Kirsten Duncan
- Publishers:
- Shrub Creative
- Series:
- ArrangeMe
- Item types:
- Digital
- Level:
- Early Intermediate
- Artist:
- Kirsten Duncan
- Usages:
- School and Community Sacred
- Number of Pages:
- 8
Detailed Description
SKU: A0.1738222
Composed by Kirsten Duncan. This edition: pdf. 21st Century, A Cappella, Contemporary, Multicultural, Spiritual, World. 8 pages. Shrub Creative #1299531. Published by Shrub Creative (A0.1738222).Words and music by Kirsten Duncan. Contemporary choral SATB, duration 3:00 mins. Score: A4, 8 pages (including covers) with piano reduction for rehearsal. Published by Shrub Creative. Item number 2025-05. ISMN 9790900969996. A solemn original song for mixed unaccompanied easy to intermediate choirs appealing for peace and kindness.
I served in the Royal Australian Navy to defend people from the actions of aggressive leaders, but I wish there were no need for military forces. At heart, I am a pacifist and greatly admire the work of Musicians Without Borders and organisations strengthening democracy and diplomacy. Surely, there would be less violence in the world if people engaged in conversation to find commonalities and harmony. After all, we all bleed the same colour and are ultimately merely human.
This solemn original work is scored for SATB voices in mostly D minor Dorian mode, modulating to A major for an uplifting climax. Led by the sopranos with the melody throughout, this short piece is suitable for easy to intermediate choirs. Conductors should draw out expressiveness through rubato tempo and shaped dynamics. Please ensure round, warm vowels, particularly pay attention to the articulation between adjacent vowels, eg “we all” as “weh / all” rather than “weeeyall”.
‘Merely Human’ would provide a secular, English-language contrast to more traditional sacred pieces in a concert program themed around peace, diversity and humanity.
Kirsten Duncan has had a lifelong passion for choral singing. Now based in Canberra, Australia, she has performed with Gaudeamus (Judith Clingan), Hamburg International School (ISH) Singers, the choirs of Christ Church St Laurence Sydney (Dr Neil McEwan), The Resonants (Helen Swan) and others. Kirsten started composing choral music in 2015 with a penchant for narrative a cappella works with an often quirky Australian flavour, contributing to the musical community that has been a stabilising thread throughout her life.
Please register performances or recordings of this work with the appropriate performing rights body, and also visit shrubcreative.com.au to notify the composer and find more works by Kirsten Duncan. Thank you, and enjoy the music!
Copyright © 2025 KIRSTEN DUNCAN. All rights reserved. A catalogue record for this work is available from the National Library of Australia.
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Similar Sheet Music & Digital Downloads
- More by this Composer:
- Kirsten Duncan Kirsten Duncan Choir
- ArrangeMe:
- Shrub Creative
- Series:
- ArrangeMe
- Artists:
- Kirsten Duncan
- Ensemble:
- 4-Part SATB A Cappella
- Publisher:
- Shrub Creative