A Closing Prayer: SAB Choral Octavo

A Closing Prayer: SAB Choral Octavo

By Don Besig

Item: 35-DS01134766
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 5
SKU: 35-DS01134766

More about this title

About the Composer: Don Besig

Don Besig

Don Besig spent 31 years as a public school music educator in western New York, building award-winning concert choral and show choir programs that performed regularly at festivals, competitions, and community venues. His direct experience teaching students across all proficiency levels, combined with his work as a guest conductor and clinician throughout 40 states and Canada, shaped his deep understanding of what singers actually need.

Recognizing that existing catalogs lacked sufficient quality music written specifically for student and volunteer church choirs, Besig began composing for his own ensembles. His output now exceeds 350 published compositions and arrangements, with over 15 million copies in circulation worldwide. As director of music at Perinton Presbyterian Church in Fairport, New York, and a member of ACDA, ASCAP, and Phi Mu Alpha, he continues to advocate for accessible, singable music that respects both the limitations and potential of developing musicians.

Why we love this

Besig writes closing pieces that actually work. This octavo avoids the sentimentality trap; instead, it offers genuine reflection without demanding vocal fireworks. The SAB voicing sits comfortably for mixed choirs without sacrificing harmonic richness, making it equally valuable for high school singers building confidence and church volunteer choirs seeking meaningful repertoire.

What to expect

Quiet, centered, and intentional. The piece settles rather than sparkles, creating space for singers to inhabit words with genuine reverence. Its harmonic language is accessible yet carries real emotional weight.

Who it's for

High school choirs seeking a sacred closing number that fits concert programs without overwhelming intermediate singers. Church choirs and community ensembles wanting repertoire that serves liturgical or reflective concert contexts. Directors seeking SAB arrangements that maintain musical substance while accommodating mixed-voice stability.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the texture by encouraging singers to listen across parts rather than drive individual lines. The prayer's power emerges from unified intent, not individual projection.
  • Take time with fermatas and breath marks. Rushing these moments deflates the contemplative character the piece asks for.
  • Let the text drive phrasing. Mark where the prayer's emotional turning points occur, then shape dynamics accordingly to illuminate those moments.

How to use it

Use as your concert finale when the program calls for a moment of collective stillness rather than celebratory energy. Pair it with other sacred works for a dedicated liturgical set, or position it as the final piece in a varied program to send audiences home thoughtfully.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustained tone production and breath management across longer phrases
  • Blending in SAB voicing with particular attention to balance between soprano and alto parts
  • Text interpretation and expressive phrasing in sacred music
  • Listening across ensemble for harmonic accuracy without conductor dependency

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