O, Can You Hear Him?: SATB Choral Octavo
O, Can You Hear Him? Sheet Music Preview

O, Can You Hear Him?: SATB Choral Octavo

By David Schwoebel / By Beth McKnight

Item: 35-DS01749816
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 11
SKU: 35-DS01749816

More about this title

About the Composer: David Schwoebel

David Schwoebel

David Schwoebel has shaped sacred music in churches across the South for nearly three decades, serving as Minister of Music and Composer in Residence at Derbyshire Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. His formal training spans voice, organ performance, and church music composition, completed at McKendree College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In his current role, Schwoebel oversees a thriving music program that includes six choral ensembles, four handbell choirs, and a 32-piece orchestra, working directly with musicians of all ages to nurture their gifts.

Schwoebel's hymn tunes have found their way into major denominational hymnals, with settings named for his wife and three daughters appearing in the Baptist Hymnal, Celebrating Grace, and Glory to God. His compositions reflect the priorities of his ministry: making sacred music accessible, singable, and spiritually resonant for congregations and choirs alike.

Why we love this

Schwoebel writes for real choirs in real churches, which means this piece balances musical substance with practical voicing. The text invites contemplation without demanding virtuosity, and the harmonic language feels both modern enough to engage singers and grounded enough for congregational participation if you choose to move it into a worship setting.

What to expect

The piece unfolds with quiet reverence, drawing listeners into intimate reflection through warm harmonic progressions and thoughtful voice leading. There's a clarity to Schwoebel's writing that lets the text come forward while maintaining musical interest, creating moments of unexpected beauty without resorting to dramatic gestures.

Who it's for

This works for intermediate to advanced SATB choirs seeking repertoire with depth and spiritual intention. It suits both festival programs and worship services, and will resonate with singers who want to explore contemporary sacred composition without navigating extreme ranges or rhythmic complexity.

How to get the most out of it

  • Honor the lyrical quality of the melodic line by sustaining phrases through to their natural resting points rather than breaking them into smaller chunks. Listen for where Schwoebel sets text and follow those phrasing cues.
  • Balance the inner voices carefully in rehearsal. In an 11-page octavo, supporting harmonies often carry the color of the piece, so make sure altos and tenors aren't swallowed by soprano and bass.
  • Experiment with dynamics across verses or sections to let the text breathe. Sacred choral writing invites subtle shaping; one dynamic throughout flattens both the music and the message.

How to use it

Place this in a sacred music concert or service where it can anchor a thematic program about faith and listening. Its moderate length and emotional directness make it an effective pairing with longer works, serving as a moment of musical stillness that contrasts with more energetic selections.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining lyrical phrases across multiple measures
  • Reading and balancing four-part texture with attention to inner voices
  • Interpreting contemporary sacred composition with textual clarity
  • Shaping dynamics and expression within restrained harmonic language

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