Total Praise (arr. Lloyd Larson): SATB Choral Octavo

Lloyd Larson's arrangement opens this beloved gospel anthem to broader choral contexts without diluting its spiritual power. The SATB voicing sits comfortably across ranges while the harmonic writing maintains the richness that makes Smallwood's music so singable and moving.

Total Praise radiates warmth and conviction. The harmonic progression beneath the text creates moments of genuine uplift, while Larson's arrangement ensures that singers at all levels find their footing within the sonority.

Choirs seeking gospel repertoire with strong choral writing and meaningful spiritual content will find this arrangement immediately usable. The piece works equally well in church settings and secular concert programs where authenticity and vocal craft matter.

• Balance the text intelligently across all four voices; the message comes through clearest when no single part overwhelms the blend, even during moments of textural fullness.
• Lean into the gospel inflections with your phrasing rather than fighting them with classical straightness. Rhythmic flexibility and slightly delayed consonants honor the music's origins.
• Let your alto and tenor lines breathe as independent melodic voices, particularly where they carry supporting material. These parts deserve the same care as soprano lines.
• Shape each phrase toward its harmonic destination rather than treating measures as equal units. The emotional arc extends across entire sections, not individual measures.

Consider pairing this with other contemporary sacred works to create a program that honors both tradition and modern expression. It serves equally well as a concert closer that leaves audiences uplifted or as an anthem within a service context, making it flexible programming material.

• Singing with stylistic awareness of gospel vocal production and phrasing
• Balancing independent harmonic lines while maintaining choral blend
• Reading and performing within SATB texture with comfortable vocal ranges
• Connecting emotional intention to musical execution across longer phrase structures