There Is A Season: SATB Choral Octavo
There Is A Season Sheet Music Preview

There Is A Season: SATB Choral Octavo

By Joel Raney

Item: 35-DS00316592
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$2.99
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 13
SKU: 35-DS00316592

More about this title

About the Composer: Joel Raney

Joel Raney

Joel Raney's musical foundation was laid at a piano bench in early childhood, followed by formative years in a rural Alabama Baptist church where gospel music took root in his compositional voice. He studied choral conducting at the University of North Alabama before pursuing advanced keyboard training at Juilliard, blending classical rigor with the warmth of his spiritual music heritage.

Since 1999, Raney has become a prolific force in American church music, with over 300 published works spanning anthems, musicals, cantatas, and instrumental compositions. His career extends beyond the concert hall into commercial scoring (more than 2000 television and radio spots), Broadway musical direction, and performance as a solo pianist and collaborative artist. He currently serves as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of Oak Park, Illinois, and as Editor for Hope Publishing.

Why we love this

Raney's gift for blending accessibility with harmonic sophistication makes this octavo work beautifully in mixed ensembles without sacrificing musical substance. The spiritual foundation of the text paired with his gift for memorable melodic writing gives singers something genuinely rewarding to interpret, rather than simply to execute.

What to expect

The piece carries the warmth and conviction of gospel music infused with choral craft. Listeners encounter sincerity rather than sentimentality, a musical setting that honors both the text and the voices singing it.

Who it's for

This octavo serves SATB choirs in church, concert, and educational settings seeking repertoire with spiritual depth and accessibility. It works equally well for experienced ensembles and developing choirs looking to expand their sacred music library with material that respects singers' musicality.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the SATB texture by running sectionals focused on how each voice line supports the overall arc rather than dominating it.
  • The gospel influence in Raney's harmonic language rewards interpretive freedom in phrasing; avoid metronomic rigidity in favor of slight rhythmic breathing that lets the text breathe.
  • Attend to dynamic shaping across phrases to showcase the emotional content of the lyrics without losing clarity of articulation.

How to use it

Position this as an anchor in a sacred concert or as part of a church service where contemporary spiritual music fits alongside traditional hymns. It also works effectively in a secular concert program as a bridge between classical and folk idioms, giving audiences a taste of American spiritual traditions.

Skills your students will build

  • Blending SATB parts while maintaining individual voice independence
  • Interpreting gospel-influenced harmonic language and phrasing conventions
  • Shaping phrase dynamics to support textual meaning
  • Balancing rhythmic precision with interpretive flexibility

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