I Will Praise: SATB Choral Octavo

Harris crafts this piece with genuine melodic shape and harmonic interest that keeps singers engaged while remaining within the reach of intermediate ensembles. The 17-page score provides substantial material that rewards careful preparation without overwhelming rehearsal schedules.

The piece carries warmth and assurance without sentimentality. Harris's writing creates moments of four-part homophony alongside more complex counterpoint, yielding a satisfying architectural arc that feels intentional rather than ornamental.

This work suits intermediate to advanced SATB choirs in both secular concert and church contexts. Singers need secure music reading ability and comfort with Harris's harmonic language, though no extreme ranges or dramatic vocal demands should discourage capable ensembles.

• Balance the text intelligibly by treating phrase endings with space rather than rushing through them; Harris's harmonic cadences deserve silence to land cleanly.
• Listen for blend in the inner voices, particularly when SATB spacing widens. Rehearse section by section if the arrangement uses divisi passages.
• Shape dynamic contours phrase by phrase rather than applying uniform volume throughout; this prevents the work from feeling static across its length.
• Let the recorded accompaniment establish the harmonic foundation, then have singers tune vertically against it in rehearsal before balancing parts together.

Program this as an anchor work for a concert focused on affirmation or hope, pairing it with contrasting repertoire in different languages or styles. It also serves as a substantive closing number for a program emphasizing contemporary choral writing.

• Four-part SATB balance and blend
• Harmonic awareness and vertical tuning
• Phrase shaping and textual intelligibility
• Reading rhythmically straightforward but harmonically sophisticated choral scores