Festival Sanctus: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This is a piece that justifies its two-decade run on the festival circuit through genuine musical merit rather than novelty. The energy Leavitt brings to the text is infectious without becoming superficial, and the SoundTrax accompaniment on this edition gives you flexibility in rehearsal and performance that wasn't available before. Having the full orchestration as a newly penned option means you can step up the arrangement for your festival finale or spring concert without sourcing parts from elsewhere.

Joyful and celebratory, with an almost dance-like quality that lifts the text beyond conventional reverence. The harmonic language is direct and accessible, yet Leavitt's voicing choices and rhythmic momentum create layers of interest that reveal themselves with repeated listening. You hear genuine exuberance here, not synthetic excitement.

This octavo works for intermediate to advanced choral ensembles preparing for festivals, contests, or concert performances. Whether you conduct a high school treble choir, a community chorus, or an adult festival choir, the piece sits at a level where solid musicianship yields strong results without requiring soloistic vocal ability.

• Keep the tempo buoyant and rhythmically precise. The piece's excitement depends on crisp articulation and clear subdivision, especially in the faster sections. A metronome or rehearsal sequence from the SoundTrax CD helps lock the ensemble into the groove.
• Balance the upper voices carefully during the layered passages. Festival adjudicators listen closely for blend in these moments, and individual line clarity is crucial when multiple voice parts move in counterpoint.
• Let the dynamic shape breathe naturally. The printed dynamics guide you toward building excitement, but avoid rushing the climax. Give yourself room to pull back slightly before the final push so the ending lands with real impact.
• Rehearse with the recorded accompaniment regularly, but not exclusively. Use it early to anchor tuning and balance, then switch to piano or a cappella rehearsals so the singers develop independence and ownership of the part.

Program this as a festival selection where you want to showcase both vocal precision and interpretive musicality. It also serves well as a concert opener or closing piece for a sacred music program, where the joyful energy sets a memorable tone. The availability of the full orchestration makes it flexible for spring concerts or festival finals where you want to upgrade the arrangement on stage.

• Precision in rhythmic articulation across multiple voice parts
• Dynamic shaping and phrasing in fast-moving passages
• Part independence within a richly voiced texture
• Intonation accuracy in layered harmonic progressions
• Text expression with clarity and joy