Where is Heaven? for SSAATTBB Choir and Chimes/Handbells ad lib: Choral Octavo, Voice

Ešenvalds crafts a setting that feels both contemplative and radiant, using the optional chimes or handbells to create moments of luminous color without requiring them to work. The piece sits comfortably in the contemporary choral repertoire while remaining genuinely singable for committed amateur choirs, making it an excellent choice for programming alongside both early music and modern works.

The piece inhabits a quiet, searching space. Ešenvalds' harmonies glow without ever becoming sentimental, and the question of the title seems genuinely open, never resolved with false certainty. The sound is transparent and ethereal, with moments of unexpected warmth.

This octavo suits choirs with solid section leaders and the stamina for divisi writing. Advanced high school choirs, college and university ensembles, and community choirs with active rehearsal schedules will find the piece rewarding and achievable. It works equally well as a showcase piece for a polished amateur group or as part of a more demanding concert program.

• Balance the eight voices so that no single line dominates; this is chamber writing, not a mass. Rehearse often in smaller sections to hear individual strand clarity.
• If you include handbells or chimes, allow them to ring freely and naturally decay rather than dampening them quickly. They should feel like spatial accents, not rhythmic reinforcement.
• Attend to the text setting carefully. Ešenvalds often places words on unexpected beats; commit fully to his phrasing choices rather than fighting against them.
• Sustain the piece's intimate quality through dynamics and release. Avoid pushing volume; let the eight-part writing create apparent density through blending rather than power.

Pair this with other contemporary choral settings of spiritual texts, or position it as a counterpoint to older sacred repertoire to highlight how composers continue exploring timeless questions. Its twelve pages and reflective pace make it ideal as a program anchor or as the emotional center of a concert exploring faith, loss, or transcendence.

• Managing sustained harmonic tension in divisi writing
• Balancing eight-part ensemble blend without conductor overdirection
• Integrating optional instrumental color while maintaining independence of vocal lines
• Interpreting contemporary text-setting and phrasing conventions
• Achieving clarity in close-voiced chord changes