Oh, How Good It Is (arr. Keith Christopher): SATB Choral Octavo

Keith Christopher's arrangement gives this modern hymn the kind of four-part clarity that works equally well in intimate chapel settings or festival performances. The writing sits comfortably across voices without compromising harmonic richness, making it a repertoire piece that doesn't require excessive rehearsal time to sound mature.

The piece radiates warmth and affirmation without sentimentality. Getty's harmonic language feels both familiar and fresh, supported by writing that gives each voice a sense of purpose and direction throughout.

This arrangement serves church choirs of intermediate to advancing ability, festival choirs programming modern repertoire, and concert choirs wanting accessible music with genuine musical substance. It works equally well for Palm Sunday services, spring concerts, or as part of a contemporary hymn festival.

• Balance the inner voices on the harmonic foundation; tenor and alto lines carry movement that shouldn't disappear beneath soprano melody
• Allow breath time before key phrase entries, especially in the soprano line, to let the text land meaningfully
• Treat dynamic changes as emotional punctuation rather than sudden shifts; the arc of this arrangement works best with gradual dynamic shaping across phrases

Pair this with a traditional hymn arrangement to create a program segment exploring how modern and classical approaches to congregational song intersect. Its ten pages make it substantial enough to anchor a choral set without overwhelming a single concert.

• Four-part blend with attention to voice independence within harmonic texture
• Shaping lyrical phrases with text awareness and dynamic subtlety
• Reading and maintaining entrances across multiple vocal lines with overlapping rhythmic patterns