Praise the Lord: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Strimple writes for 2-part voices with genuine care for what these singers can accomplish. The text setting feels natural, the harmonic language is engaging without being precious, and the piece sits at exactly the right difficulty level for choirs building confidence and blend.

Direct and heartfelt, with the kind of musical sincerity that feels earned rather than imposed. The harmonic language unfolds naturally, creating moments of warmth and clarity that make singers want to listen to themselves.

Middle and high school choirs, church choirs developing younger singers, and any ensemble seeking a genuinely musical sacred piece that respects the limitations of a 2-part voicing. This works equally well for choirs with limited male voices or those building from a unison foundation.

• Establish a clear harmonic foundation by having Part II singers own their line fully; they're not a safety net but an essential voice.
• Explore dynamic contrast even within the 7 pages. Strimple's phrasing invites subtle shaping that keeps the piece from feeling static.
• Balance the text underlay carefully so pronunciation feels intentional rather than rhythmically cramped, especially in passages with faster note values.

Include this in a spring or concert season program where it can stand beside a more complex choral work, letting each piece define the other. Its brevity and accessibility also make it ideal for opening a concert or serving as a centerpiece in a thematic sacred music set.

• Sustaining tone quality across phrase lengths
• Singing independent harmonic lines in 2-part texture
• Text clarity and thoughtful diction in sacred repertoire
• Reading and performing with appropriate musical shape and phrasing