Canti Augustini (Saint Augustine Songs) for SSAATTBB Choir: Choral Works (inc. Oratorios)

The music balances reverence with structural clarity, moving through harmonic territories that feel both grounded in tradition and expressively modern. These settings invite singers into contemplative spaces while maintaining lyrical, memorable shapes.

Collegiate and volunteer choirs with solid intonation and comfort with expanded harmonic language. This collection works for directors seeking substantial sacred choral literature that showcases skilled singers without demanding a full orchestra.

• Attend closely to the balance between the two soprano and two alto lines; these often carry independent material that defines the harmonic color.
• Work through the text underlay carefully before rehearsals begin, as settings of liturgical Latin benefit from clear pronunciation and phrase shaping aligned with the musical phrasing.
• Consider the fuller six-part and eight-part sections as opportunities to explore blend and homogeneity; Levine's orchestration of voices rewards a unified sound.

Canti Augustini can anchor a liturgical concert or serve as a centerpiece in a mixed sacred repertoire program. The 68-page collection offers enough material for a substantial choral contribution to a festival or concert series while maintaining thematic coherence.

• Reading and executing expanded harmonic language (seventh chords, chromatic voice-leading, modal mixture)
• Balancing independent lines in divisi passages across six and eight voices
• Singing Latin text with clarity and musicality while maintaining ensemble unity
• Developing sensitivity to harmonic color and tension within a non-functional harmonic framework