The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23): TTBB Choral Octavo

This arrangement carries real cultural weight. Directors who program it connect with singers and audiences who know the melody from the beloved BBC series, which gives you immediate emotional entry even with less experienced choirs. The writing itself is warm without being saccharine, and the TTBB voicing sits naturally in men's voices, making it an excellent choice when you need something substantial that your singers will want to sing.

Warm and unhurried, with the kind of sincerity that comes from a melody people already know and trust. The harmonic language is grounded and lyrical, never overwrought, allowing the text to breathe while the choir's voices create an enveloping sense of comfort and contemplation.

This works beautifully for men's choirs seeking material with both accessibility and musical substance. It's equally valuable for mixed ensembles wanting a sacred piece that serves as both concert staple and potential memorial or special occasion selection.

• Shape the melody so it sits comfortably over the harmonic support rather than forcing projection. Goodall's orchestration is thoughtful enough that the tune emerges naturally when phrasing is clean.
• Pay attention to breath placement in longer phrases. The text-setting favors legit phrasing over syllabic precision, so mark your sections' breath points early in rehearsal.
• If you're using the string accompaniment option, balance the choir's dynamic range against the ensemble's weight. The organ version provides more immediate support.

Pair this with other contemporary sacred settings to highlight how living composers approach psalm text. It also works as a thoughtful closing piece for a concert that includes lighter material, or as the centerpiece of a program focused on music connected to popular culture and television.

• Sustaining long phrases with control and consistency
• Balance between melody and supporting harmonic voices
• Shaping familiar melodies with fresh interpretive choices
• Blend and tuning in four-part TTBB writing