Festival Sanctus: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Leavitt crafts sacred texts with harmonic language that feels both contemporary and reverent without sacrificing singability. The Festival Sanctus sits at that sweet spot where your singers will care about intonation and phrasing because the music invites it, not demands it, and the recorded accompaniment locks everything into place during rehearsal.

The Sanctus unfolds with reverent dignity, built on clear harmonic progressions that feel both modern and timeless. Leavitt's orchestration suggests something larger than the choir alone, and the recorded accompaniment amplifies that sense of occasion without overwhelming the voices.

This work suits intermediate to advanced high school choirs and collegiate singers looking for festival or contest repertoire that commands musical respect without requiring virtuosic technique. It also serves churches and community choirs seeking contemporary sacred music with liturgical relevance and ear-catching harmonic color.

• Balance the parts by listening through the recorded accompaniment in rehearsal without singers present; this trains your ear to where the harmonic weight should sit.
• Treat the text of the Sanctus with clarity and weight, letting consonants define the phrasing without rushing the Latin syllables.
• If using instrumental parts alongside the recorded accompaniment, prepare those players separately first so they adjust to the tempo and style choices Leavitt embedded in the writing.

Include this on a festival or competition program as a centerpiece sacred work, or pair it with other pieces by Leavitt for a thematic concert block. It works equally well as a concert finale or as part of a sacred choral showcase, and the accompaniment track removes the logistical burden of securing live instrumentalists.

• Singing sustained vowels with consistent intonation across changing harmonic contexts
• Diction precision in Latin text (pronunciation and articulation within the Sanctus tradition)
• Following a recorded accompaniment while maintaining independent vocal line integrity
• Balancing harmony parts that feature non-traditional voice doublings
• Interpreting contemporary harmonic language with musical sensitivity rather than mechanical accuracy