Laudate!: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Leavitt captures the energy and structural clarity of Baroque writing without requiring your singers to navigate archaic language or complex harmonic analysis. The rhythmic drive and clean articulation demands build ensemble discipline while the neo-Baroque style gives singers genuinely exciting material to sink their teeth into, making this a strong choice for concert programming or festival competition.

Laudate! radiates energy and forward motion. The neo-Baroque idiom brings intellectual clarity to the harmonic structure while the rhythmic vitality keeps the piece from feeling academic or dusty. Singers experience the joy of clean, driven singing with a sense of purpose as phrases build toward satisfying moments of arrival.

Choirs at the Grade 3 level with solid fundamentals in rhythm reading and blend. The 3-part voicing (SAB) makes this accessible for developing mixed ensembles while the Baroque-influenced writing style challenges singers to develop more refined articulation and ensemble precision.

• Establish the constant forward motion early in rehearsal by tapping out the Baroque-like rhythms as a group before adding text; this builds the rhythmic precision the work demands.
• Work articulation systematically: mark every note that needs clean attack in the score, then isolate those passages in sectional rehearsals to ensure uniformity across the choir.
• Shape the climactic passages with dynamic contrast; Leavitt's writing builds toward peaks, so identify these arrival points and let your singers feel the trajectory from preparation to release.
• Consider the optional percussion parts as an enhancement that reinforces rhythm and adds textural depth rather than as a necessity; use them strategically if you have players available.

Program this as a concert centerpiece or festival selection where you want to showcase ensemble discipline and rhythmic sophistication. It pairs well with slower, more reflective pieces on the same program, offering textural and stylistic contrast while staying within accessible performance levels.

• Baroque rhythmic articulation and stylistic interpretation
• Ensemble synchronization in rhythmically complex material
• Dynamic shaping and phrasing across climactic structures
• Part independence and voice leading in mixed voicing
• Precision in attacks and releases at faster tempos