Patti Drennan shaped choral music in Oklahoma public schools for nearly three decades, directing award-winning programs at West Mid-High School and Norman High School before earning the Director of Distinction Award from the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association in 2004. Her work as a composer and arranger has reached schools and churches across North America, with over 425 published octavos and more than two million copies in circulation.
Since retiring from full-time teaching, Drennan has become a sought-after clinician, adjudicator, and workshop leader, working with ensembles in 19 states and Canada. She brings her deep understanding of what works in rehearsals and on concert stages directly into her writing, and she continues to balance her composing and arranging work with performing and recording alongside her daughter Emily.
Why we love this
Drennan brings decades of classroom experience to this sacred hymn arrangement, which means the voicing sits naturally in the voice and the piece respects what SSA choirs can actually accomplish without sacrificing musical integrity. The 11-page format suggests substantive material that won't feel rushed or thin in a concert setting.
What to expect
The hymn text and sacred context suggest a piece that combines reverence with emotional directness. An eleven-page arrangement indicates moments of development and varied textures rather than a single statement of tune, giving singers room to explore the music's emotional arc.
Who it's for
SSA and SSAA choirs looking for substantial sacred repertoire that can anchor a concert program or fit into a worship service. This works equally well for high school ensembles with strong singers and community choirs seeking meaningful material with musical depth.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the soprano lines carefully in passages where they split. SSA voicing leaves room for the sopranos to shine, but excessive weight on the melody can overshadow the alto harmony.
Shape the harmonic progression with deliberate attention to voice leading. Sacred arrangements thrive when singers understand how their line connects to the whole, not just their entrance cues.
Record a sectional rehearsal focusing on blend and intonation in the lower voices. Altos often carry crucial harmonic material in SSA writing; their confidence directly affects ensemble sonority.
How to use it
Anchor a spring or fall concert with this as a closing selection, pairing it with lighter secular works earlier on the program to create a meaningful arch. Consider it also for a worship service context where you want your choir to offer substantial musical contribution without overloading rehearsal time.
Skills your students will build
Sustained vocal line control and phrasing within sacred music contexts
Part singing independence across three staves while maintaining harmonic awareness
Dynamic and textural shaping in hymn-based arrangements
Intonation accuracy in close harmony voicings typical of SSA writing
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