Deep Peace: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: Deep Peace: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50167
Price: 2.05 USD
Availability: InStock

Words from a Traditional Celtic Blessing / music by Michael Larkin

Item: 00-50167

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$2.05

Shipped

One moment…

Here's an expressive, through-composed setting that evokes the awe of moon and stars through sweeping legato vocal lines, a rich harmonic landscape, and a gentle piano underscore. At just under three minutes in length, it makes a superb choice for a concert closer, benediction or signature send-off.

Deep Peace: SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

Series: Lawson-Gould

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081573373

SKU: 00-50167

More about this title

About the Composer: Michael Larkin

Michael Larkin shaped choral music education in the Delaware Valley for nearly three decades as chair of the Vocal/Choral Department at the Music School of Delaware, where he also mentored student singers as an artist faculty voice teacher. Beyond the classroom, he founded and directs the New Ark Chorale, one of the region's most respected choral ensembles, leads the Brandywine Pops Orchestra, and maintains an active career as a baritone soloist, guest conductor, and festival clinician. His compositional output spans over 300 works across choral, vocal, piano, and orchestral genres, all published by major American houses.

Larkin's music reflects his deep understanding of how singers learn and grow. Whether writing for concert choirs or smaller ensembles, he crafts pieces that challenge musicianship without sacrificing accessibility, and that connect singers emotionally to the text they're performing.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Larkin's text setting respects the natural cadence of words while his harmonic language feels both sophisticated and singable. The sweeping legato lines demand breath control and line awareness without requiring extreme ranges, making this accessible for mixed choirs of varied experience levels yet substantial enough to satisfy accomplished singers.

What to expect

Deep Peace opens a quiet window to the night sky. Larkin's sweeping vocal lines create the sensation of gazing upward, while the rich harmonic underpinnings ground you in reverence. The piece feels like a benediction rendered through sound.

Who it's for

Mixed choirs performing at intermediate to advanced levels will find this piece both rewarding and achievable. Concert organizers seeking a finale that leaves the audience in quiet reflection rather than applause will appreciate its contemplative character and three-minute arc.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the legato phrases as one continuous arc rather than measuring breath at every bar line; identify 2-3 natural breathing spots per section and commit to them during rehearsal so the lines feel inevitable to the singers.
Balance the voices so the soprano and alto lines interweave with clarity; their independence creates the harmonic richness Larkin intended, but muddiness happens quickly if lower voices sit too heavy.
Let the piano breathe with the singers rather than anchoring to a strict tempo; the through-composed structure allows for subtle flexibility that makes the piece feel less like a song and more like a meditation.

How to use it

Program this as your final selection when you want the audience to leave in silence. It pairs beautifully with more energetic repertoire earlier in a concert, offering contrast and resolution. The piece works equally well as an opening benediction at graduation ceremonies or as a spiritual moment within a larger worship context.