We Lift Our Hands: SATB Choral Octavo

Warm and affirming. The music carries a sense of communal celebration, with harmonies that feel both modern and rooted in spiritual tradition. There is joy in the vocal lines without saccharine sentimentality.

This octavo serves choirs looking for accessible sacred repertoire that sits comfortably in the contemporary and gospel styles. It works equally well for church choirs, concert choirs seeking lighter programming, and groups wanting to expand beyond traditional hymnal arrangements.

• Anchor the harmonic movement with solid bass voicing; the piece's effectiveness depends on clear foundational support beneath the upper parts.
• Shape phrases with dynamic arcs rather than holding individual notes at the same volume. Allow the text to guide expressive choices naturally.
• Balance the SATB texture so no single voice overwhelms the others. Contemporary gospel works best when all four voices share equal presence.

Pair this with other contemporary sacred works to create a program that speaks to present-day congregations or concert audiences. It also transitions effectively between more formal repertoire and closing numbers, since the joyful character leaves singers and listeners uplifted.

• Blending consonant attacks across four voice parts
• Singing contemporary harmonies with security
• Shaping phrases expressively within a text-driven arrangement
• Executing clean voice leading in close SATB writing