John Leavitt has spent decades writing and arranging choral music that connects with singers and audiences alike. His gift for crafting accessible yet musically satisfying arrangements has made him a staple in school and community choirs across the country.
Why we love this
Leavitt's arrangement captures the emotional core of its source material while giving your SATB singers something genuinely musical to sink their teeth into. The three-page format keeps rehearsal time reasonable without shortchanging the harmonic richness that makes this arrangement resonate.
What to expect
The arrangement balances sincerity with accessibility, never veering into sentimentality. Singers will feel the weight of the text while enjoying the satisfaction of clean, well-crafted harmonic movements.
Who it's for
Directors building a sacred concert with contemporary feel will find this arrangement ideal. It works equally well for school choirs wanting quality pop-adjacent repertoire and community groups seeking spiritually grounded material.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the inner voices carefully during the harmonic passages; sopranos and altos often carry the melody, but tenor and bass lines deserve clarity and support to maintain the arrangement's depth.
Let the text drive your phrasing. These words carry weight, so encourage singers to shape their lines with meaning rather than mechanical precision.
Attend to the dynamics marked in the score. Leavitt uses contrast deliberately to shape the emotional arc, and respecting those shifts will bring the arrangement to life.
How to use it
Include this in a winter or spring concert that mixes sacred traditions with contemporary voices. It pairs naturally with both classical spiritual arrangements and modern worship songs, serving as a bridge between repertoire styles.
Skills your students will build
SATB voice independence and balance
Singing spiritually meaningful text with emotional authenticity
Reading and executing dynamic contrast and phrasing direction
Blend and intonation across four sustained harmonic lines
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