Barlow and his collaborators craft a contemporary Easter anthem that avoids sentimentality without sacrificing warmth. The arrangement gives each voice section meaningful material, and the harmonic language feels fresh enough to capture singers' genuine engagement while remaining accessible for most church and school choirs.
What to expect
Contemporary without edges; reverent without restraint. The harmonic movement feels both grounded and spacious, creating room for reflection rather than demanding dramatic display.
Who it's for
Choirs with a foundation in part-reading and blend who want to expand beyond traditional Easter fare. This works equally well in church settings seeking contemporary repertoire or school choirs looking for concert material with spiritual substance.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the parts carefully in sectional rehearsals; contemporary harmonies can muddy if any voice dominates the texture.
Approach the text with specificity. Sacred contemporary music lives or dies by how deliberately singers shape the message, not by how loudly they sing it.
Use the recorded accompaniment early in rehearsal to establish harmonic context, especially if your singers are less experienced with non-traditional chord progressions.
Mark breathing points collaboratively with your choir. This piece rewards thoughtful phrase architecture over breath placement dictated from the podium.
How to use it
Anchor an Easter service or spring concert with this as a centerpiece. Its ten pages suggest a substantial closing number that gives singers and listeners alike time to inhabit the musical space.
Skills your students will build
reading contemporary harmonic language (seventh chords, modal mixture)
balancing four independent vocal lines in a non-functional harmonic context
text-driven interpretation in sacred contemporary music
sustaining long melodic lines within homophonic textures
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
