[Choral Piece] Difficult but cool! A work that overwhelms its listeners
You may have found your way here because you’re looking for a free-choice piece to sing at a choir competition or because you want to improve your choral technique! In this article, I’ll be introducing choral pieces that are quite challenging to sing.
Fast tempos, sudden tempo changes, wide melodic leaps, and complex staggered entries between parts—these pieces have it all.
If you can make it through the works listed here, you’ll surely feel a great sense of accomplishment.
Be sure to read to the end!
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[Choral Piece] Difficult but cool! Works that overwhelm listeners (1–10)
To You — A Message for Your DepartureSakushi Sakkyoku: Tsutsui Masako
Masako Tsutsui, an elementary school teacher, created “To You — A Message for Your Departure” for her graduating students.
It is one of the pieces in the mixed-chorus suite Goddess of Time.
The lyrics carry a powerful message: no matter how hard life may become from here on, what you experienced during your school days will surely support you.
From partway through the piece, the melody proceeds with a syncopated rhythm, so a key point is not to lose track of the beat.
Feel the flow well as you sing.
A girl searching for flowersSakushi: Tsurumi Masao, Sakkyoku: Ogikubo Kazuaki
The somber, heavy, and dark tone of “The Girl Searching for Flowers” leaves a strong impression.
This piece is the third movement of the mixed-chorus suite “IN TERRA PAX – Peace on Earth” and is relatively well known.
The suite itself was inspired by the Vietnam War, and “The Girl Searching for Flowers” also presents a shocking scene in which tanks close in on a girl walking in search of beautiful flowers.
Beyond melody and harmony, the true challenge of this piece lies in how well one can express the tragedy that intrudes upon peaceful everyday life.
It’s a perfect piece for honing expressive ability.
I can hear (it)Sakushi: Iwama Yoshiki / Sakkyoku: Niimi Tokuhide
This is a choral piece that portrays the feelings of young people facing various issues heard from around the world.
It was composed as the set piece for the high school division of the 1991 NHK All-Japan School Music Competition and has continued to be sung by many choirs since then.
It is filled with checkpoints throughout, such as whether the high G in the soprano can be sung cleanly and whether musical elements like melody, harmony, and rhythmic sense can be mastered.
As a work that expresses the emotions of young people who, while being concerned about what is happening in society and the world, struggle with the dilemma of feeling powerless, it is a perfect choice for a free-selection piece in a choral competition.
[Choral Piece] Difficult but cool! Works that overwhelm the listeners (11–20)
running riverSakushi: Kanazawa Chieko, Sakkyoku: Kurosawa Yoshinori
Wings of Water was composed in 1993 at the request of Minami Junior High School in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, by composer Yoshinori Kurosawa.
The piece is a mixed-chorus suite, and its second movement is the well-known Running River.
The song makes a strong impression with its dynamic progression, shifting suddenly from the bright mood of the intro to an ominous atmosphere.
Overall, it features complex rhythmic patterns that are hard to feel, making it a high-difficulty choral work.
With its drastic tempo changes, it seems like it would take considerable practice to sing accurately in sync with the changing speed of the music!
Ballad of the MonstersSakushi: Okada Fumiko / Sakkyoku: Tokaiji Osamu
Among the many choral pieces, The Ballad of the Kaiju stands out for its especially flamboyant melody.
Its difficulty is around a B level; the vocal parts themselves are not particularly challenging.
However, the accompaniment is closer to an A-level difficulty, and its brisk tempo and rich developments give the chorus tremendous power.
Because the piece also contains elements somewhat reminiscent of a musical, it can be considered very approachable for those who have only recently become interested in choral music.
The prince does not returnSakushi: Miyoshi Tatsuji / Sakkyoku: Miyoshi Akira
When people think of difficult choral pieces, they tend to picture mixed chorus, but there are challenging works in male chorus as well.
Among them, the one I especially recommend is “Ōson Fukui” (The Prince Who Did Not Return).
Composed by Akira Miyoshi, it carries the somber atmosphere characteristic of his music, bordering on noise music.
Beyond its eeriness, it’s packed with difficult elements: overwhelming long tones, complex dissonances, and sudden, striking harmonies.
It’s the kind of piece that can’t be mastered by a school choir but requires a full-fledged choral ensemble, so it’s definitely worth a listen!
rainbowLyrics and composition: Naotaro Moriyama・Kai Okachimachi / Arrangement: Taketomi Nobunaga
A choral piece with the theme of “rainbow,” beloved at graduation ceremonies and choral competitions.
Lyrics and music by Naotaro Moriyama and Omodaka Kai, arranged by Takafumi Nobunaga.
Released in September 2006 as the set piece for the junior high school division of the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition, this work shows how new meaning arises when we view things from different perspectives.
Musically, the independence and harmony of each part are crucial, and the male voices in particular require delicate vocal production.
It is a moving piece often sung at life’s milestones and moments of departure.