Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow (arr. John Leavitt): SAB Choral Octavo

Leavitt's treatment of this spiritual strikes a balance between authenticity and singability that few arrangers achieve. The SAB voicing sits naturally for mixed ensembles without sacrificing the emotional weight of the tune, and the accompaniment provides enough harmonic sophistication to keep experienced singers engaged.

The piece carries the spiritual's characteristic call and response quality while creating moments of genuine vulnerability. There's an invitation in the music, something that asks singers to commit emotionally rather than simply execute notes on a page.

This works for choirs building toward a concert of American spirituals or seeking a sturdy, singable arrangement for holiday programming. SAB ensembles with solid music reading and breath control will find it rewarding without struggling.

• Let the alto line breathe independently in the early phrases. Too often arrangers bury this voice, but Leavitt's writing gives it real melodic interest that deserves attention in rehearsal.
• Shape the dynamic arc across complete phrases rather than hitting peaks too early. The spiritual's narrative momentum works best when you can still go somewhere.
• Ground the soprano line with a solid alto foundation, especially in passages where they move in similar motion. The blend here determines whether the arrangement sounds full or thin.

Pair this with other Leavitt arrangements or spirituals by different voices to build a thematic set. It also stands well as a standalone encore or as part of a December concert celebrating diverse choral traditions.

• Balancing three independent lines while maintaining harmonic blend
• Sustaining line direction across longer phrases
• Interpreting spiritual style without caricature
• Navigating changes in harmonic rhythm and texture