What Wondrous Love Is This: Piano Vocal

What Wondrous Love Is This: Piano Vocal

As performed by Patti Drennan

Item: 35-DS01843174
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS01843174

More about this title

About the Artist: Patti Drennan

Patti Drennan

Patti Drennan's 28 years directing choral music in Norman Public Schools shaped her deeply rooted understanding of what singers need to perform at their best. She earned degrees in music education from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, then spent two decades at West Mid-High School before moving to Norman High School, where her four choirs consistently earned superior ratings. Her work earned her the Director of Distinction Award from the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association in 2004.

Since retiring from the classroom, Drennan has become one of the most prolific composers in choral music, with over two million copies of her work in circulation and more than 425 published octavos. She regularly leads composer weekends and music reading sessions for churches across the United States and Canada, serves as a clinician in 19 states, and continues performing and recording, including work that has been heard at Carnegie Hall. Her approach to composition grows directly from her years in the rehearsal room, where she learned what truly resonates with singers and audiences.

Why we love this

This arrangement honors the hymn's spiritual weight without requiring elaborate vocal gymnastics. Drennan's piano writing provides genuine accompaniment rather than mere support, giving the piece enough musical substance to stand in a recital or service without feeling thin or apologetic.

What to expect

The familiar melody carries the weight of centuries of spiritual seeking, here cradled by piano writing that feels both intimate and substantial. There's nothing ornate about it; the music lets the text and tune do their work, with accompaniment that deepens without overwhelming.

Who it's for

Solo singers preparing recital repertoire will find a thoughtful setting that respects the tune's origins while offering musical depth. Church musicians and worship leaders can use this as a meaningful solo piece for services or concerts.

How to get the most out of it

  • Allow the opening measures of the piano part to establish the hymn's contemplative character before the vocal entrance. The accompaniment sets the emotional stakes.
  • Shape the melody in long phrases rather than stopping at phrase marks. This folk tune breathes across the bar lines when given space.
  • Let the piano part speak with color. The accompaniment isn't subordinate; listen for moments where it mirrors, responds to, or gently shadows the voice.

How to use it

Nest this into a recital focused on American spiritual music or folk song traditions. It works equally well as a featured solo in a worship service where the text matters as much as the music.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining long vocal phrases with consistent support
  • Singing text with emotional authenticity across multiple stanzas
  • Coordinating vocal melody with an independent piano accompaniment
  • Finding expressive depth in a simple, well-known tune

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