As performed by Leonard Cohen / Arranged by Barrie Carson Turner
Item: 35-DS00140049
Digital Download
$2.99
Minimum order quantity: 10 copies
Please note: Under U.S. copyright law, you must purchase the exact number of copies needed for your ensemble. Printing, duplicating or sharing additional copies is strictly prohibited.
Pickup currently not available
Description
Discover MakeMusic Cloud: thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Leonard Cohen (1934-2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist whose work spanned decades of cultural shifts. His compositions blend literary sophistication with accessible melodies, creating songs that work equally well in concert halls and intimate settings. For choral directors, Cohen's catalog offers sophisticated harmonic language and emotionally complex texts that challenge singers to find depth in seemingly simple phrases.
Why we love this
Barrie Carson Turner's arrangement transforms one of Cohen's most enduring songs into a choral work that retains its contemplative power while opening new textural possibilities. The seven-page octavo format gives singers enough musical substance to sink their teeth into without overwhelming a rehearsal schedule, and the spiritual resonance of the text creates natural opportunities for thoughtful interpretation across all four voice parts.
What to expect
The piece occupies a liminal space between prayer and questioning, carrying the quiet intensity of a late-night conversation. Turner's arrangement preserves the spiritual gravity of Cohen's original while creating moments of harmonic richness that feel earned rather than imposed, leaving singers and listeners in a state of reflection.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for choral ensembles seeking repertoire that bridges contemporary and traditional styles, from high school honors choirs to community and college programs. Singers appreciate material that feels vocally and emotionally relevant to their lives, and Cohen's unflinching examination of faith and doubt resonates across age groups and experience levels.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the four voices to let individual melodic lines emerge rather than blending everything into homogeneous harmony; each part should feel like a distinct voice in conversation.
Shape phrases by listening for the natural speech rhythms of Cohen's lyrics, allowing slight flexibility in tempo to accommodate emotional peaks and valleys.
Experiment with dynamics as a tool for building textural interest in sections where voices move together; subtle dynamic shifts between parts can illuminate harmonic movement.
Consider how silence functions in the piece; rests between phrases carry weight and should feel intentional rather than accidental.
How to use it
This works beautifully as an opening number for a concert themed around spirituality, doubt, or contemporary songwriting. It also serves as an excellent closer when you want audiences to leave thoughtfully engaged rather than energized, and its relatively modest performance demands make it suitable for mixed-skill ensembles or as a palate cleanser between heavier classical works.
Skills your students will build
Singing contemporary song structures within choral voice leading
Balancing poetic text delivery with harmonic awareness
Creating vocal independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion
Interpreting through rubato and dynamic shaping rather than metric rigidity
You May Also Like
Scan to Complete Your Purchase
Use your phone's camera to scan the code below
You'll log in on your phone and the order will be added to your account
