It is Happiness Carnegie Hall (May 2026)

IT IS HAPPINESS

CARNEGIE HALL - MIDAMERICA PRODUCTIONS - MAY 2026

This page will be a collection of resources for many choirs and singers gathering together in New York City from May 21-25 for the Carnegie Hall premiere of Joan Szymko's It is Happiness.

Performance: Sunday, May 24, 2026 8:30 p.m.

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, New York

New England Symphonic Ensemble

LINK TO DETAILED RESIDENCY SCHEDULE

LINK TO PERFORMANCE RECORDING

VOICE PARTS AND SPLITS

Note: this document has the splits for independent and ISU singers. Those with participating choirs will get their split assignments from their director.

LINK TO APRIL 18 ZOOM MEETING

General overview of the residency and questions answered followed by a detailed walk through of the score with musical notes.

REHEARSAL RECORDINGS

Link to live rehearsal videos

This is a cumulative Google Drive with rehearsal recordings added as they occur over Spring 2026.

Movement 1 - The Summer Day

Notes: Begin in your 3-part split assignment

Movement 2 - Sunrise

Movement 3 - Wild Geese

Link to YouTube Playlist with all recordings

SPLIT NOTES

This work uses two, three, and four-part splits and you should know your assignment for all of those from your director or from the splits document linked above. Here are some details:

Movement One

mm. 17-34: 3-Part
mm. 35-40: 4-Part with A1/A2 on the bottom line (this may be different than the rehearsal recording)
mm. 41-50: 3-Part
mm. 51-65: 2-Part (soprano/alto)
mm. 66-end: 3-Part (low voices start). In mm. 120-123, 157-158 and 169-172, middle part uses their 2-Part split with sopranos on the top note and altos on the bottom note.

Movement Two

mm. 1-14: 2-Part
mm. 15-19: 4-Part
mm. 20-24: 2-Part
mm. 36-75: 2-Part (most in unison, splitting into 2-Part when two notes. Small notes in m. 65-66 are optional for altos who feel uncomfortable in that range.
mm. 76-78: 4-Part
mm. 84-93: 2-Part (but it is unison)
mm. 96-107: 3-Part
mm. 108-116 (beat 3): 2-Part (in octaves)
mm. 116 (beat 4)-end: 4-Part

Movement Three

mm. 1-99: 3-Part
- Letter A - low voices start at pick up to m. 21 and middle voices enter at the pick up to m. 32
- Letter D - low voices start and both high and middle voices enter at m. 92, then split on that line in m. 98.
mm. 100-105: 2-Part (but it is unison)
mm. 109-end: 3-Part
- m. 109, both high and middle voices sing the top line then split to their own staves in m. 110.
- mm. 114-116 and mm. 120, middle part uses their 2-Part split with sopranos on the top note and altos on the bottom note.

SCORE MARKS AND NOTES

GENERAL NOTES:

Base tempos are as marked in the score, including all conversions (e.g. Mvt. 2 at Letter A, 1 before Letter C, Letter D, etc.)
Tied notes followed by a rest will extend the full value of the tie and put the ending consonant on the rest. Key examples are noted below, but perhaps not all.
All "N.B." (no breath) indications and dashed phrasing lines will be observed. Additional breath notes are below.
All dynamic markings are observed as written. Unless indicated as a subito dynamic, treat marked dynamics as arrival points rather than places of distinct change.