Hodie: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Lewis crafts a setting that feels both reverent and contemporary, using suspended harmonies and subtle dissonance to transform a familiar Latin text into something contemplative and fresh. The optional violin obbligato allows you to scale the piece from intimate choral performance to a fuller ensemble sound, making it adaptable across multiple concert contexts. The arpeggiated accompaniment is pianistically elegant without overwhelming young singers, and the harp alternative opens doors for schools with instrumental resources.

A meditation on the Incarnation rendered in floating melodies and softly shifting harmonies. The piece inhabits a space between stillness and subtle movement, with the piano's arpeggios creating a gentle pulse beneath voices that drift through suspended moments of harmonic uncertainty before resolving into clarity.

This setting serves treble choirs of any age and skill level, from middle school through adult ensembles. Its sophisticated harmonic language and expressive demands make it rewarding for singers ready to explore lyrical, contemporary sacred writing without requiring extensive vocal maturity.

• Approach the arpeggiated piano part with rhythmic precision and consistent tempo; even slight variations will expose the harmonic suspensions that make this piece special.
• If adding the violin obbligato, ensure the instrumentalist balances with the choir rather than leading it, supporting the singers' phrasing and harmonic journey.
• Shape the melodic line through the suspensions rather than around them; resist resolving early to let the ethereal quality breathe.
• Consider the optional harp or synth harp substitution as a genuine sound choice, not a compromise. Each accompaniment creates a distinct sonic character worth exploring in rehearsal.

Anchor a Christmas concert or contest set with this piece as a contrasting moment of quiet contemplation among more traditional carols. Its sophistication and concert-ready polish make it equally at home in a holiday festival or a spring choral showcase emphasizing contemporary sacred repertoire.

• Singing sustained lines through harmonic suspensions without pulling away from dissonance
• Blend and balance in 2-part harmony with independent melodic shape in each voice part
• Expressive phrasing across arpeggiated accompaniment without losing rhythmic alignment
• Diction and legit vowel shapes in Latin sacred text
• Coordination with optional instrumental obbligato parts (violin, piano, or harp)