Missa Festiva: Choral SoundTrax CD

The revised edition expands what was already a powerful work by adding richer orchestral color and offering multiple voicing options, giving you real flexibility in how you present this Mass to your choir and audience. Five movements of genuine liturgical substance rarely arrive at this level of craft and singability at once. You get a work that sounds impressive in performance while remaining grounded in solid, supportive pedagogy.

Leavitt's setting carries both liturgical weight and modern sensibility; the music feels at once reverent and alive. Each movement unfolds with clear melodic purpose and warm harmonic color, creating an arc that engages listeners from the opening Kyrie through the final Agnus Dei.

This is designed for intermediate to advanced high school and college choirs, as well as strong community and church choirs with singers who can handle the range demands and harmonic density. Directors looking for a substantial sacred work that rewards serious preparation will find a sophisticated yet rewarding choice here.

• Balance the choir against the recorded accompaniment by rehearsing with the CD from the start; the chamber orchestration is full enough to require intentional blend work, not just louder singing.
• Map the text underlay carefully in each movement before full rehearsals begin, especially across any divisi sections, so singers are confident before adding interpretation.
• Use the provided instrumental parts if available in your setting; having live strings or winds changes the acoustic presence and allows for real ensemble collaboration.
• Shape phrases across bar lines rather than resting on every punctuation; the Latin texts flow more naturally when you honor the musical line over strict text breaks.

This work anchors a sacred choral concert or serves as the centerpiece of a liturgical service; its five-movement structure gives you a complete musical statement without overstaying its welcome. Program it alongside smaller motets or shorter pieces to create a balanced concert that honors both the weight of the Mass tradition and the interests of your audience.

• Singing Latin texts with accurate pronunciation and liturgical style
• Managing sustained harmonic complexity while maintaining phrase integrity
• Balancing ensemble blend in divisi sections across multiple voicings
• Interpreting dynamic and expressive nuance in sacred music contexts
• Responding to recorded accompaniments with independence and flexibility