Standing in the Need of Prayer Cover Image

Standing in the Need of Prayer: SAB Choral Octavo

$3.50 USD
$3.50 USD
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Standing in the Need of Prayer Cover Image
Standing in the Need of Prayer: SAB Choral Octavo

Standing in the Need of Prayer: SAB Choral Octavo

Arr. Alexander L'Estrange

Level: Elementary

Item: 12-0571538142
$3.50
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Description
Standing in the Need of Prayer is a simple, meditative melody with a pleasing, repetitive chord sequence. This arrangement gives you a chance to "crank it up a gear" after the modulation; there is also an opportunity to thicken out the vocal harmonies towards the end with some optional alto notes. Once singers get more confident, you may wish to experiment with other improvised harmonies or descants.

Faber Choral Singles offer a series of beautifully crafted arrangements in a diversity of musical styles for today's choirs. From Broadway, pop and folk to spirituals, gospel and original works, the Faber Choral Singles series guarantees the perfect repertoire for every occasion.

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Additional Details
Series: Faber Choral Singles
Publisher: Faber Music
ISBN10: 0-571-53814-2
ISBN13: 978-0-571-53814-0
UPC: 9780571538140
SKU: 12-0571538142
Instrumentation: with Piano

More about this title

About the Arranger: Alexander L'Estrange

Alexander L'Estrange is a composer and arranger whose work spans sacred music, choral literature, and educational settings. His arrangements are known for balancing accessibility with musical substance, creating pieces that allow singers to grow into fuller interpretations as their confidence builds.

Why we love this

L'Estrange has resisted the urge to over-arrange this spiritual. Instead, he preserves the meditative heart of the melody while building in structural surprises: the modulation genuinely shifts the energy, and the optional alto harmonies give singers a real choice about how deeply they want to invest in the arrangement. That restraint is what makes it work.

What to expect

There's a quiet dignity here: the opening meditation asks singers to sit with a simple truth before the arrangement gently insists on it, building toward a fuller, more urgent sound in the second half. The piece trusts the melody to carry meaning.

Who it's for

This octavo suits choirs working at an elementary level who want a spirituals arrangement that doesn't condescend to them. It works equally well for a community choir seeking accessible sacred material or a school ensemble building confidence in part-singing and harmonic listening.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the repetitive chord sequence firmly in the first verse so the modulation lands with genuine impact rather than sounding arbitrary.
  • Let the optional alto notes emerge gradually. Introduce them in rehearsal only after soloists and main harmony singers are secure, then layer them in as an expressive choice, not an obligation.
  • Experiment with dynamic shaping across the repetitions. The simplicity of the melody invites subtle variations in volume and intensity that can reveal new meaning with each phrase.

How to use it

Program this as a moment of reflection in a concert that mixes styles and genres. Its meditative opening can settle an audience after more energetic pieces, while the modulation and added harmonies give it enough lift to feel like a complete statement rather than an interlude.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing sustained harmonies in a three-part texture (SAB)
  • Following and responding to structural change (modulation and dynamic building)
  • Interpreting optional vocal material and making artistic choices about arrangement elements
  • Balancing individual line work with collective blend in sacred music

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