Laudamus Te: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Eshelman balances accessibility with genuine musicality here. The pairing of Latin text with English lyrics gives younger singers immediate ownership of the piece while honoring the traditional sacred language, and the moderate difficulty means your singers can focus on tone and expression rather than wrestling with complicated rhythms.

Reverent yet approachable. This piece carries the dignity of a traditional Latin text without the weight of complexity; instead, it invites singers into a moment of genuine musicality. The English lyrics create a bridge between the sacred and the familiar, making the piece feel both timeless and immediate.

Directors of elementary and early middle school choirs looking for sacred repertoire that works year-round. The moderate difficulty and bilingual text also make this accessible for treble ensembles in community settings or beginning high school choirs seeking foundational choral literature.

• Encourage clean vowel unification between the two parts, especially on the Latin text. Young singers often default to separate vowel colors; unified vowels will make the harmonic blend sparkle.
• Take time to teach the Latin pronunciation before drilling the melody. Once singers feel confident with the text, musical phrasing flows naturally.
• Let the melody breathe. The "delightful" character Eshelman built into this piece comes through when singers resist the urge to rush; space between phrases gives the piece room to sing.
• Balance part independence with blend. In a 2-part setting, both lines matter equally; avoid letting one part overshadow the other, especially if your sections have uneven numbers of singers.

Program this during winter holiday concerts where you need a moment of reflection alongside more festive selections. Its year-round viability also makes it an excellent choice for spring concerts, ceremonies, or special assemblies. At this level of difficulty, it works well as a closing piece that leaves an impression without requiring months of rehearsal preparation.

• Sight-reading Latin text and English lyrics in a unified musical context
• Balancing independent melodic lines while maintaining harmonic blend
• Sustaining long phrases with consistent breath support and tone quality
• Interpreting sacred music with appropriate reverence and musical sensitivity