Oh How He Loves You And Me (with "Jesus, Lover Of My Soul"): SATB Choral Octavo

John Purifoy's arrangement threads two beloved melodies together with genuine sophistication, avoiding the obvious harmonizations you might expect. The piece respects both the hymn's dignity and the contemporary warmth of 'Oh How He Loves You And Me,' creating a moment that feels both rooted and immediate.

There's a luminous quality here, born from the gentle insistence of the traditional hymn melody meeting the contemporary warmth of Kaiser's composition. The piece feels both contemplative and affirming, drawing listeners into intimate reflection before opening into broader affirmation.

This arrangement serves choirs seeking substantial yet accessible sacred music for worship services, special occasions, or concerts with a religious context. It works equally well for church choirs of intermediate to strong ability and community or school choirs with solid ensemble experience.

• Bring out the interplay between the two melodic lines; they're not competing but conversing. Make sure sopranos and altos shape their phrases distinctly even when moving in similar motion.
• Let the middle voices breathe. The alto and tenor lines contain thoughtful counterpoint that anchors the arrangement. Rehearse these parts independently so they support rather than cling to the sopranos.
• Honor the text's emotional weight through dynamic restraint in the opening section. Save your intensity for moments where the arrangement builds, so the climax feels earned rather than imposed.

Position this as a centerpiece for a worship service or sacred concert where you want to honor tradition without feeling bound by it. Its moderate length and emotional transparency make it an excellent choice for memorial services, dedications, or ecumenical programs where accessibility matters as much as artistry.

• Singing two distinct melodic lines simultaneously without losing textural clarity
• Balancing sustained harmonic support with the independence required for counterpoint
• Shaping phrases that honor both hymnody's directness and contemporary song's flow
• Sensitive dynamic control across an SATB texture without conventional crescendos