and the rose feels a threat is an intimate, lyrical setting for tenor and bass (or small men’s ensemble) that blends expressive vocal writing with poetic, image-rich text. Opening with a gentle line in the tenor, the piece unfolds in long, flowing phrases as the bass provides a steady, grounded counterline beneath.

The music highlights evocative imagery — sunsets crying out, roses feeling threatened, starlight in the eyes — and the score mirrors this through arching melodies, tender suspensions, and warm harmonic motion.

It ends with the return of earlier lines that creates a sense of circular reflection, giving the piece a quiet, emotional resonance.

Suitable for advanced high-school, collegiate, or adult men’s ensembles, this miniature is expressive, atmospheric, and deeply personal.

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Voices:

Tenor, Bass