There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28.

You Are All One was conceived as a musical representation of the diverse voices of a body of people coming together to speak as one. This is achieved through chant-like repetition, at times in unison, then in harmony, with snippets of melody for each voice-part and, for a time, the upper voices becoming a chattering multitude over a sustained lower voices chord. It is about difference and similarity, about the individual voice and the collective; it ultimately captures the strength that exists when we act in community with each other.

The work opens in unison, with brief moments of harmony highlighting particular words, comes apart when many voices repeat independently, and then finds consensus, ending in chordal homophony. It has a rhythmic impetus which follows the natural metre of the verses from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, falling into a lilting 7/8 for much of the piece.

Written for a cappella SATB (no divisi) and with a modest vocal range to suit most choirs, You Are All One is ideal for general use, and especially when exploring themes of unity, diversity, and inclusion.