I Believe: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by John Leavitt
Item: 35-PK00399228
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Description
This sacred evergreen was a number one hit in the '50s and swept through the United States and the United Kingdom with its encouraging message of faith. More than a nostalgic musical journey, this treasured favorite offers a positive Credo for the seeker. Useful in both the concert venue and the sanctuary, the rich vocal writing will endear the arrangement to your singers. A wonderful walk down memory lane!
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00399228
More about this title
About the Arranger: John Leavitt
John Leavitt is a prolific arranger and composer whose work spans choral, instrumental, and vocal jazz idioms. His arrangements are known for honoring the integrity of original melodies while creating accessible, singable parts that enhance ensemble cohesion and musical growth. With decades of experience serving high school, college, and community ensembles, Leavitt understands the practical demands of rehearsal time and the importance of writing that engages singers without overwhelming them.
His catalog reflects a deep respect for both classical and popular music traditions. Leavitt's ability to craft rich harmonic textures within realistic ranges has made him a trusted choice for directors seeking repertoire that sounds mature and polished without requiring virtuosic technique from every section.
Why we love this
Leavitt's arrangement captures what made this song resonate across generations while giving your singers genuinely satisfying vocal lines. The combination of inspirational text and accessible writing makes it equally at home in a concert hall or a faith setting, solving that perennial programming puzzle of finding repertoire that works for multiple performance contexts.
What to expect
Warm, affirming, and genuinely earnest. The arrangement respects the vintage quality of the original while avoiding a period-costume feel, landing instead in a kind of timeless sincerity. There is real lift in the harmonies, and the overall sound feels generous and full without becoming sentimental.
Who it's for
This works beautifully for mixed ensembles at the high school and community college level, as well as church choirs seeking concert repertoire with spiritual resonance. Directors programming festivals, benefit concerts, or services will find the piece effective regardless of venue; it carries its message without apology in either context.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody so it emerges clearly from the harmonic foundation, especially if your ensemble covers a wide range of vocal maturity. The arrangement's richness can easily bury the tune if inner voices push too hard.
- Shape the phrases with intentional breath placement and dynamic contour. Let the text guide your interpretation; the message of faith needs room to land with the audience.
- Work the ensemble intonation in the harmonic passages during rehearsal. Leavitt's voicing rewards careful tuning in the middle voices, which will enhance the arrangement's warm, full sound.
How to use it
Consider pairing this with other uplifting choral works to create a thematic concert program centered on messages of hope or resilience. It also serves as an excellent closer for pops concerts or community engagement events where the familiarity and emotional accessibility of the song work in your favor. For faith-based ensembles, it bridges the concert repertoire and service music gap in ways few arrangements do.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with lyrical phrase shape and intentional text delivery
- Blending in rich four and five-part harmonic textures
- Interpreting arrangement choices that honor traditional material in contemporary settings
- Tuning complex inner-voice harmonies with accuracy