Of Faith and Freedom: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00410424
$75.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Festive and powerful, this anthem incorporates a time-honored hymn text, making this vibrant paean of liberty well-suited for national observances or times of spiritual revival. "We sing of faith and freedom, lifting our voices in unity, singing as one mighty voice to our God." A full orchestration sends the music to lofty heights!
Of Faith and Freedom: Choral Instrumental Pak isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00410424
More about this title
About the Arranger: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University in South Carolina before earning his master's degree in the same field from the University of Texas at Austin. He spent five years teaching piano pedagogy at UT Austin while maintaining an active performance career, appearing as a solo recitalist and guest artist with orchestras across the United States and Mexico. His recording of a solo recital at Ex-convento del Carmen received national broadcast distribution, and he won the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, leading to a featured performance with the Guadalajala Symphony Orchestra.
Though his compositions and arrangements have graced venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to regional theaters and hundreds of churches throughout North America, Martin has increasingly focused his talents on sacred music and worship settings. His prolific output spans an impressive range of styles and approaches, consistently demonstrating the compositional craft and orchestral sensibility refined through his years as both performer and educator. He currently resides in Austin, Texas.
Why we love this
Martin's orchestration here transcends typical patriotic fare by grounding the work in genuine hymn tradition while building to genuinely stirring moments that feel earned rather than forced. The full instrumental support gives every voice section something substantial to anchor onto, making this accessible for mixed ability choirs without sacrificing musical substance. Programming this conveys intentionality; it's a piece built for moments that matter.
What to expect
Stately and luminous, with hymn-like dignity that builds toward moments of genuine exultation. The orchestration lends weight and ceremony to the text while maintaining clarity around the foundational melody, creating an experience that feels both reverent and celebratory.
Who it's for
Directors seeking repertoire for Independence Day services, patriotic concerts, or spiritual revival events will find immediate use here. This works equally well for established choirs wanting substantial material and newer groups looking for an arrangement that elevates their sound through orchestral support rather than requiring technical wizardry.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the instrumental foundation carefully so the orchestra supports rather than drowns the choir. A lighter touch on strings during verses preserves text clarity.
- Shape the hymn melody through subtle dynamic variance rather than sudden changes. The text carries its own weight when singers trust the phrasing.
- Prepare the choir to feel the orchestral energy during the full sections. Their commitment and resonance will match what the arrangement offers underneath.
- Mark transitions between solo voice sections and full choir moments clearly in rehearsal. The contrast only lands when it's truly deliberate.
How to use it
Reserve this for a program finale or the centerpiece of a patriotic service where it can anchor surrounding smaller works. It also serves as an ideal companion to concerts exploring the intersection of faith and national identity, giving you a piece substantial enough to stand alongside longer choral works while requiring only digital purchase and preparation.
Skills your students will build
- Singing sustained lines with clear vowels against active instrumental accompaniment
- Responding to orchestral cues and ensemble balance
- Interpreting hymn-based melodies with appropriate phrasing and reverence
- Blending voice parts in block harmony while maintaining text intelligibility