Kesselman crafts a Sanctus that honors the sacred text without sacrificing accessibility. The SSA voicing opens this liturgical moment to a wider range of choirs, and the setting balances reverent simplicity with genuine musical substance. It's the kind of piece that feels both achievable and genuinely moving in performance.
What to expect
Reverent and spacious, with the particular quality of sacred music that invites both contemplation and communal participation. The writing creates moments of harmonic richness that feel earned rather than imposed, allowing the text to breathe.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advanced high school and college women's choirs, as well as treble sections of mixed ensembles. Directors seeking repertoire that serves both concert and liturgical contexts will find a genuine fit here.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the text clarity with the harmonic writing. The piece rewards singers who shape each word intentionally rather than rushing through text.
Pay attention to breath placement at natural textual phrases, not just at bar lines. This keeps the prayer feeling organic rather than metrically rigid.
Encourage your altos to own their line. In SSA writing, the middle voice often carries crucial harmonic support and deserves confident, stable singing.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece of a sacred music concert or as part of a concert exploring liturgical settings. Its length and character also make it suitable for festival competitions where programming depth matters.
Skills your students will build
Balancing harmonic blend in three-part writing
Text projection and diction in Latin
Sustaining long lines without sacrificing phrase shape
Ensemble listening across SSA voicing
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