Steal Away: Choral Instrumental Pak

Leavitt's treatment of this spiritual honors the weight and grace of the original while the string accompaniment adds a layer of color that elevates the sacred without obscuring it. Your singers will find the vocal lines grateful to sing, and the instrumental part gives you flexibility in how much support you provide from the accompaniment.

The spiritual carries an inherent dignity and yearning that Leavitt respects throughout. The string accompaniment wraps around the vocal melody with warmth, creating an intimate, reflective atmosphere that invites listeners into a contemplative space.

Choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who want to expand their sacred repertoire with an arrangement that honors tradition while sounding fresh in performance. This works for groups that have access to string players or a prepared accompanist comfortable with string writing.

• Let the strings establish the harmonic foundation before your singers enter; this creates space for the voices to emerge naturally rather than compete.
• Shape the phrase endings together with your accompanist. The strings' final note should breathe with the choir's release.
• Consider whether your singers know the spiritual's cultural and historical context. A brief conversation about its meaning can deepen their interpretation.
• Balance your dynamic markings carefully between sections. The string parts can easily overshadow a soft passage if the ensemble isn't attentive.

Place this in a concert devoted to spirituals and sacred songs, or use it as a bridge between secular and sacred repertoire if you're building a thematic program around themes of hope or freedom. It also serves well as a meaningful opening number for an evening of varied choral work.

• Singing in a cappella textures while listening to instrumental accompaniment
• Balancing choir and instrumental ensemble acoustically
• Interpreting sacred music with historical awareness
• Sustaining long phrases with consistent tone quality