Let Beauty Awake: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: Let Beauty Awake: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-OCT9603
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

By Michael Larkin

Level: Moderate

Item: 00-OCT9603

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Michael's setting of Robert Lewis Stevenson's text is exquisitely expressive. 'Let beauty awake for beauty's sake.' The excellent voice leading makes this a wonderful choice for concert, festival or contest uses. A welcome addition to the repertoire of any serious choir!

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Belwin Festival Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 029156182781

SKU: 00-OCT9603

More about this title

About the Composer: Michael Larkin

Dr. Michael Larkin brings three decades of experience in vocal and choral music to his compositions. As former chair of the Vocal/Choral Department at the Music School of Delaware and a distinguished artist faculty voice teacher, he developed a deep understanding of what works in the rehearsal room and on the concert stage.

Beyond his academic tenure, Larkin remains active as Director of Music Ministry at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, founder and music director of the New Ark Chorale, and conductor of the Brandywine Pops Orchestra. He is frequently sought as a guest conductor, festival clinician, and adjudicator. Over 300 of his choral, vocal, piano, and orchestral works appear in print with major American publishing houses.

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Why we love this

Larkin's setting of Stevenson's meditative text moves beyond competent voice leading into genuinely expressive territory. The piece reads fresh in a festival or contest setting without demanding excessive rehearsal time, making it an ideal fit for ensembles preparing multiple selections.

What to expect

The piece unfolds with quiet contemplation, inviting singers to inhabit the philosophical simplicity of Stevenson's observation about beauty. Larkin's harmonies support this introspection without sentimentality, creating space for individual voices to shine within the collective.

Who it's for

This octavo works for intermediate choirs aiming beyond beginning repertoire without the technical demands of advanced literature. Directors preparing for festival, contest, or concert programming will appreciate its musicality and reasonable preparation timeline.

How to get the most out of it

Attend to the phrase arcs in each voice part. Larkin's voice leading invites singers to shape their lines with intention, so encourage singers to hear their melodic contour independent of the harmony.
Find the textual anchor in 'Let beauty awake for beauty's sake.' The repetition carries emotional weight, so shape it with growing resonance rather than mechanical repetition.
Balance the inner voices carefully during harmonic transitions. Clear inner-voice singing prevents the piece from becoming muddy when multiple parts move simultaneously.

How to use it

Pair this with contrasting repertoire to highlight its reflective character. It serves as an effective second or third selection in a concert sequence, offering singers and audiences a moment of focus before moving to lighter or more dramatic material.