Al Shlosha D'Varim: SATB Choral Octavo

The piece carries a reflective, deliberate quality that invites intimate ensemble singing. Modern harmonic language meets traditional Hebrew text in a way that feels respectful without being antiquarian.

SATB choirs working with contemporary repertoire and texts outside the standard English-language canon. This piece suits ensembles with some harmonic literacy who want to expand their Jewish liturgical or secular choral offerings.

• Establish clear vowel shapes early in rehearsal, especially across the Hebrew syllables, to maintain precision in the faster passages.
• Pay close attention to the voice leading between sections; Naplan often moves ideas through the parts in ways that require careful listening from each section.
• Record a sectional run-through to hear how the parts interact. What reads well on the page sometimes needs adjustment in balance during full rehearsals.

Consider programming this as part of a concert exploring cultural and linguistic diversity in choral music, or as a stand-alone contemporary work when you want something that lands differently than the typical octavo fare. Its length makes it flexible for both full concert programs and shorter community performances.

• Singing Hebrew text with accurate pronunciation and musical phrasing
• Reading contemporary harmonic language in SATB format
• Tracking voice leading across multiple independent parts
• Ensemble blend in a work with non-traditional structural pacing