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O Hearken: Choral Octavo

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O Hearken: Choral Octavo

O Hearken: Choral Octavo

By Roxanna Panufnik

Item: 98-EP72771
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Description
Composed in 2015 for the Westminster Abbey Choir and its director James O'Donnell, this anthem has a celebratory mood. Text is from Psalm 5: 2, 8, 13. SATB Choir a capella.

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 12
ISBN10: 0-57-701090-5
ISBN13: 979-0-57-701090-8
SKU: 98-EP72771

More about this title

About the Composer: Roxanna Panufnik

Roxanna Panufnik is a British composer whose work draws on her Polish heritage and deep engagement with spiritual and liturgical music. She has written extensively for choirs, orchestras, and chamber ensembles, and her compositions have been performed at major venues including Westminster Abbey, where O Hearken was commissioned.

Panufnik's approach combines accessible melodic writing with sophisticated harmonic language. Her choral works in particular are known for their clarity of text setting and their ability to create moments of both intimacy and grandeur, making them rewarding for both singers and listeners.

Why we love this

Panufnik's gift for writing singable lines that feel both fresh and inevitable makes this anthem work beautifully in performance. The celebratory character and psalmody text create a piece that fits comfortably into liturgical contexts while standing on its own as a concert work, and the a cappella scoring means your singers are completely exposed—a perfect opportunity to build blend and confidence.

What to expect

The music radiates warmth and affirmation. Panufnik's harmonic vocabulary—rooted but not restrictive—creates moments of brightness and depth, while the psalmody text grounds everything in genuine liturgical purpose. The celebratory mood never tips into sentimentality; instead, the piece has a clarity and directness that feels both inviting and dignified.

Who it's for

This octavo suits intermediate to advanced choirs with secure intonation and a foundation in ensemble blend. The a cappella format demands singers who can hold their lines independently, making it ideal for collegiate, church, or professional ensembles or advanced high school choirs with strong technique.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the pulse from the opening notes without pressing; the celebratory mood comes from clarity and lift, not tempo speed.
  • Pay close attention to the text underlay and allow natural speech rhythms to shape your phrasing rather than forcing mechanical accents.
  • Balance your voice sections carefully in the fuller passages; blend begins with each singer hearing neighbors clearly.
  • Shape phrases through dynamic contour rather than consistent volume; subtle swells and recessions keep the music alive across the 12 pages.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert built around contemporary choral music or as a liturgical anchor in a mixed repertoire program. Its modest length (12 pages) makes it a natural pairing with shorter works, or it can serve as the concluding anthem in a service of lessons and carols.

Skills your students will build

  • Intonation and blend maintenance in a cappella singing
  • Text-driven phrasing from liturgical poetry
  • Harmonic awareness and voice independence in contemporary choral writing
  • Sustained melodic line singing with attention to prosody

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