Matt Podd brings the sensibility of a working musician across multiple idioms to everything he writes. Based in New York City, he has arranged and composed for performers ranging from Barbra Streisand to the Boston Pops, and his work has been heard at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the White House, and on national television. His experience as a pianist and orchestrator for Broadway performers, symphony orchestras, and jazz ensembles informs his approach to choral writing.
Podd holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Ithaca College, and frequently collaborates with his twin brother Adam on musical projects. His arrangements and original compositions reflect his fluency in jazz, gospel, pop, musical theatre, and classical traditions.
Why we love this
Podd's setting of this Shaker hymn respects the simplicity and spiritual core of Joseph Brackett's original while bringing fresh harmonic color and textural sophistication to the SSA voicing. Singers and audiences alike respond to arrangements that honor a text's intention rather than obscure it, and this piece achieves that balance perfectly. It works equally well as a concert closer, a festival selection, or a gateway piece for choirs looking to expand beyond standard octavo fare.
What to expect
The piece carries the quiet meditation of a Shaker hymn, moving with deliberate simplicity while the harmonic language creates moments of gentle surprise. Singing it feels like being part of something larger than yourself, even in small numbers.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits choirs of intermediate to advanced ability who want to engage with a meaningful text in a fresh way. It works particularly well for groups seeking SSA repertoire that isn't children's music but still sits comfortably in the voice.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the inner voices carefully; the SSA voicing often asks altos to carry important harmonic material that can easily get buried under soprano lines
Let the text breathe at phrase endings rather than pushing through to the next section; this hymn rewards singers who listen to what they're singing
Explore the dynamic range available even within the piece's contemplative character; variations in volume can deepen the spiritual effect without sacrificing intimacy
How to use it
Consider pairing this with other spirituals or hymn-inspired repertoire for a thematic concert set, or program it as a festival submission where its straightforward elegance will stand out. It also serves as an ideal final concert piece when you want to send the audience home in a reflective mood.
Skills your students will build
Sustained vocal lines and breath management across longer phrases
Independent part singing with SSA voicing, especially alto independence
Emotional communication of text without over-interpretation
Balance and blend in chordal harmony
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