Faith: SATB Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement respects the iconic original while reimagining it for voices alone, which forces the choir to become both the harmony and the drive. The a cappella setting strips away production gloss and demands real musicianship from your singers. Programming this gives your ensemble a modern standard that audiences genuinely know and love, paired with an arrangement that challenges your singers to listen acutely to one another.

Confident and assertive. The original's pop structure and driving groove translate into an arrangement that pulses with energy and contemporary attitude. There is both vulnerability and strength in the lyrics, giving singers emotional material to inhabit alongside the rhythmic demands.

Mixed choirs with solid sight reading skills and the ability to hold their own line without instrumental support. A cappella singing demands independence and listening maturity, making this suitable for intermediate and advanced ensembles. The nine pages contain enough substance to reward dedicated rehearsal time.

• Establish a rock-solid rhythmic foundation by isolating the bass line and working it separately from the chord roots. Once locked, layer the upper voices against that anchor.
• Record a scratch track of just the bass and alto parts, then have sopranos and tenors learn their lines while listening to that foundation. This prevents the harmonic layers from floating.
• Pay particular attention to blend within each section before worrying about balance between sections. A cappella singing exposes every tonal difference, so homogeneity within parts creates clarity across the whole choir.
• Find the groove by having singers feel the pulse in their bodies rather than thinking metrically. This is pop music rooted in groove, not concert music rooted in precision alone.

This works beautifully on a concert featuring contemporary or pop-influenced repertoire, or as a powerful closing number that speaks to a broad audience. Consider programming it after more classical selections to showcase your choir's range and versatility. The relative accessibility of the melody makes it an effective audience connector on a mixed program.

• Rhythmic independence and entrances without instrumental cues
• Harmonic listening and blend within a cappella texture
• Sustaining tone and breath control across longer phrases
• Interpreting contemporary song structure and groove in a choral setting
• Balancing dynamic urgency with sustained vocal production