What Wondrous Love Is This?: SATB Choral Octavo

Reverent and grounded. The familiar melody floats over warm, stable harmonies that feel both modern and timeless. There's an intimacy here, even when sung by a full choir, as if the ensemble is reflecting together rather than performing at someone.

Choirs at the intermediate to advanced level looking for a concert piece that builds on known repertoire without requiring specialized vocal technique. This works especially well for groups aiming to program meaningful spiritual music in secular contexts.

• Balance the soprano line carefully; it carries the familiar tune, but the inner voices need presence to anchor the harmonies. Undercoating the altos and tenors will strengthen the overall sonority.
• Pay attention to phrase breathing marks. This piece lives in sustained, shaped lines rather than rushed syllabic text setting, so give singers space to breathe intentionally between phrases.
• Lean into the resonance of the lower voices at key harmonic moments. Thomason's voicing often highlights the beauty of tenor and bass foundations; they're not accompaniment.

Position this as a centerpiece for a thematic program exploring American hymn tunes, or use it as a contemplative closer to a concert that mixes sacred and secular works. Fourteen pages give it substantial presence without demanding excessive rehearsal time relative to its impact.

• Singing sustained, shaped lines with intentional phrasing
• Balancing a melody-driven soprano part with active inner voices
• Performing spirituals and American hymn-based repertoire in a concert arrangement
• Ensemble intonation across four parts with moderate harmonic complexity