Holy Manna: SATB Choral Octavo
Holy Manna Sheet Music Preview

Holy Manna: SATB Choral Octavo

Arranged by Joel Raney

Item: 35-DS00417011
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$2.99
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 8
SKU: 35-DS00417011

More about this title

About the Arranger: Joel Raney

Joel Raney

Joel Raney learned piano before he learned to read, growing up in a rural Baptist church in Alabama where gospel music became his musical north star. That foundation shaped everything he would later create. After earning his bachelor's in choral conducting from the University of North Alabama, he pursued advanced keyboard training at Juilliard, then spent decades building a prolific catalog of over 300 published works alongside his role as Editor at Hope Publishing.

Raney's output spans choral anthems, musicals, cantatas, handbell compositions, and instrumental works that consistently chart among bestsellers. His parallel career as a composer and producer has yielded soundtracks for thousands of commercials and films, while his conducting credits include national Broadway tours. He maintains an active presence as a clinician and concert performer, both as a piano soloist and in duet with organist Jane Holstein, and currently serves as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of Oak Park, Illinois.

Why we love this

Raney brings the warmth of gospel idiom to this beloved hymn tune without sacrificing the clarity and reverence the text demands. The arrangement sits comfortably for SATB choirs of moderate ability while offering enough harmonic sophistication to engage more experienced singers. It's the kind of Easter anthem that sounds fresh on concert programs while honoring a tune that carries generations of congregational memory.

What to expect

Reverent and quietly celebratory. The arrangement honors the hymn's dignity while infusing it with harmonic warmth that feels both modern and timeless. There's a sense of quiet conviction in the writing that allows singers and listeners to sit with the resurrection text rather than rush past it.

Who it's for

Choirs preparing Easter services or spring concerts who want a solid, singable anthem with genuine musical substance. This works equally well for church choir programming and high school or college sacred music selections.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the overall tempo steady but unhurried; this tune thrives when there's space for the harmonic language to breathe and for the text to land clearly.
  • Attend to the inner voices, particularly where alto and tenor lines create countermotion with the outer parts; those moments are where Raney's arranging craft becomes visible.
  • Balance the dynamic shape across all four parts so no section dominates; the SATB texture works best when each voice contributes equally to the harmonic color.

How to use it

Use this as your primary Easter anthem for a service where congregational participation matters; it's familiar enough that many in the pews will know the tune, but Raney's treatment gives your choir something distinctive to offer. It also pairs naturally with other spring repertoire in a concert setting, where it can serve as either a reflective anchor or a concluding gesture.

Skills your students will build

  • SATB blend and balance in four-part harmony
  • Sight-reading accidentals and chromatic voice leading
  • Sustaining a lyric line across longer phrases without rushing or sagging
  • Following harmonic movement within a choral texture

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