What is SAB (with optional tenor)?
SAB (with optional tenor) when referring to the music of Dan Davison is essentially two-part music, but written with four parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
In this type of music, the sopranos and tenors sing in octave unsion for the entire piece, as do the altos and basses.
Another name for this voicing is SATB (2-part), or ST/AB.
In Dan Davison's writing, his first priority is to write tenor and bass parts in the ranges of singers at the middle level.
Tenors typically sing in the range of G3 to D4.
Basses typically sing in the range D3 to C4.
When transposed up one octave, these ranges work pretty well for sopranos and altos.
The actual name of the voicing, "SATB (2-part)" is not a currently used voicing. The same goes for the other name, "ST/AB."
The voicing title of "SAB (with optional tenor) was chosen because most directors looking for this type of music would have an unbalanced choir. (30 girls and 6 boys)
Directors with unbalanced choirs such as these are most likely looking in the "SAB" section of online catlogs.
When and "SAB" customer comes upon an "SAB with optional tenor" piece, they will immediately see that there are four parts instead of three.
However, the director will also quickly see that the basses sing the same part as the altos, as do the tenors and sopranos.
Now that it can be seen the the music is actually "two-part" music, the director will see that the piece will work nicely for their unbalanced choir.
SAB (with optional tenor) when referring to the music of Dan Davison is essentially two-part music, but written with four parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
In this type of music, the sopranos and tenors sing in octave unsion for the entire piece, as do the altos and basses.
Another name for this voicing is SATB (2-part), or ST/AB.
In Dan Davison's writing, his first priority is to write tenor and bass parts in the ranges of singers at the middle level.
Tenors typically sing in the range of G3 to D4.
Basses typically sing in the range D3 to C4.
When transposed up one octave, these ranges work pretty well for sopranos and altos.
The actual name of the voicing, "SATB (2-part)" is not a currently used voicing. The same goes for the other name, "ST/AB."
The voicing title of "SAB (with optional tenor) was chosen because most directors looking for this type of music would have an unbalanced choir. (30 girls and 6 boys)
Directors with unbalanced choirs such as these are most likely looking in the "SAB" section of online catlogs.
When and "SAB" customer comes upon an "SAB with optional tenor" piece, they will immediately see that there are four parts instead of three.
However, the director will also quickly see that the basses sing the same part as the altos, as do the tenors and sopranos.
Now that it can be seen the the music is actually "two-part" music, the director will see that the piece will work nicely for their unbalanced choir.
