Choral Anthology 6 for Mixed Choir (SATB): Choral Works (inc. Oratorios)

Ešenvalds writes choral music that feels immediately singable yet harmonically sophisticated, striking a balance many directors chase but few find. This collection offers access to his recent sacred and secular works without requiring your singers to navigate extreme ranges or unusual vocal techniques. Programming his work signals artistic credibility while delivering pieces your ensemble will actually enjoy rehearsing.

Ešenvalds' writing creates luminous, often introspective soundscapes built from carefully layered voices. His pieces inhabit a space between contemporary classical and spiritual music, with harmonic language that feels both accessible and unexpectedly moving.

This anthology suits established choral programs seeking repertoire that demonstrates musical maturity without excluding singers of moderate experience. College and advanced high school choirs will find substantial material here; intermediate programs can selectively choose accessible pieces while building toward the more complex works.

• Listen to professional recordings before rehearsal to internalize Ešenvalds' harmonic language, particularly how he uses suspended resolutions and open sonorities.
• Attend to dynamic control in quieter passages; his textures often rely on subtle timbral shifts rather than volume changes for expression.
• Shape phrases through vowel resonance and voiced consonant clarity, especially in passages where text underlay supports harmonic movement.

Use this collection as a resource for mixed-voice programming across the academic year, drawing pieces for winter and spring concerts as well as sacred music festivals. The inclusion of oratorio works makes it valuable for directors planning season-spanning projects or seeking standalone sacred repertoire that avoids overused standards.

• Sustaining open vowels and achieving blend in suspended harmonies
• Reading and executing contemporary harmonic language with root position and inverted chords
• Balancing independent voice lines while maintaining textural cohesion
• Interpreting expressive markings in sacred and secular contexts