Sing, Rejoice A Song Of Praise (arr. John Leavitt): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Leavitt's arrangement strips away unnecessary complexity while preserving the piece's devotional warmth. A two-part setting lets younger singers focus on blend and phrasing without wrestling with dense harmonies, yet the harmonic framework remains thoughtful enough to hold adult choirs' attention.

The piece carries genuine reverence without excess ornamentation. Simple harmonic movement allows the text to breathe, creating an intimate quality suited to contemplative sacred spaces.

This works well for middle school choirs developing blend, treble choirs seeking sacred repertoire, or mixed ensembles building confidence with a shorter seven-page piece. It's also useful for adult community choirs wanting accessible sacred material without compromising musicality.

• Establish a unified vowel shape across both parts, especially in sustained passages where blend becomes audible. Record a quick section rehearsal and listen back to catch where parts separate.

Consider opening a sacred concert with this, letting its straightforward sincerity set a reflective tone before moving to more complex works. It also serves as an effective closer following larger choral works, offering a moment of stillness.

• Sustained tone control in block chord writing
• Blending two independent melodic lines
• Shaping longer phrases with minimal textual repetition
• Singing text-appropriate dynamics in sacred context