Please note: Under U.S. copyright law, you must purchase the exact number of copies needed for your ensemble. Printing, duplicating or sharing additional copies is strictly prohibited.
Pickup currently not available
Description
Discover MakeMusic Cloud: thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. His career as a concert pianist took him across the United States and Mexico, including a featured performance with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra after winning the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, and a nationally broadcast recital from Mexico's Ex-convento del Carman.
These days, Martin channels his compositional energy into sacred music and choral works performed in churches and at musician conferences across North America. His pieces have graced venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to regional theaters, but his primary focus remains the working church musician and the choirs they direct. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.
Why we love this
Martin's sacred writing balances accessibility with genuine musical substance. The Call sits comfortably in the hands of developing choirs while offering enough textural variety and harmonic interest to hold mature singers' attention, making it equally at home in a community choir or a college chamber ensemble.
What to expect
Grounded in tradition yet approachable, The Call unfolds with the warmth of a composed hymn. The piece has the spiritual directness of sacred choral writing while its harmonic language remains inviting and clear.
Who it's for
SATB choirs seeking a concert or worship program piece that connects with audiences. Works for repertoire rotation in community choirs, church ensembles, and music education settings where singers need meaningful material that doesn't demand virtuosic technique.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the text naturally rather than forcing rhythmic precision at the expense of lyrical flow; let the language guide your phrasing.
Balance the inner voices so the harmonic movement remains clear without crowding the soprano line.
Mark potential breathing points that honor both the musical line and the text's meaning to avoid awkward cutoffs mid-phrase.
How to use it
Pair this with other Martin arrangements or sacred works for a thematic concert devoted to contemporary hymn writing and spiritual texts. It serves equally well as an anthem in a Sunday worship service or as a feature piece in a choral recital highlighting American sacred music.
Skills your students will build
SATB voicing balance and voice leading
Singing text-driven melodic lines with musical intention
Blend across four-part harmony without sacrificing individual voice clarity
Interpretation of contemporary sacred music idioms
You May Also Like
Scan to Complete Your Purchase
Use your phone's camera to scan the code below
You'll log in on your phone and the order will be added to your account
