Victor C. Johnson: What Do the Stars Do (SSA)

A delicate piano introduction leads the listener to an elegant setting of Christina Rossetti’s inquisitive poem. Well-conceived voice leading makes the fully realized choral harmony beautifully singable, and each voice part gets a turn with the celestial melody. Text painting, lyrical lines, warm suspensions, emotional range—it’s all here, ready to amaze audiences and adjudicators.