With What Shall I Come?: SATB Choral Octavo

Powell's text setting here is unforgettable. The harmonic movement supports the theological weight of the question posed in the title, building emotional intensity without resorting to bombast. This is a piece that sounds substantive in any concert, whether programmed as a standalone devotional moment or paired with larger sacred works.

The opening presents a gentle, questioning quality that gradually deepens as the voices enter. There's an introspective gravity to Powell's setting; the piece invites listeners into genuine spiritual reflection rather than performance spectacle.

This octavo suits advanced high school choirs and collegiate ensembles with strong harmonic awareness. It works equally well for sacred music specialists and community choirs seeking repertoire with theological substance and musical sophistication.

• Shape the opening lines with careful attention to Powell's harmonic progression; resist the urge to sing straight through. Each chord change carries textual meaning.
• Balance inner voices throughout; the alto and tenor lines often carry essential countermelody rather than pure harmony.
• Experiment with pacing in sections marked with longer note values. The silence between phrases can be as powerful as the singing itself.

Pair this with other sacred choral works by African American composers to create a thematically coherent concert segment. Its modest length and reflective character make it ideal as a transitional piece between larger works or as a standalone offering in a mixed sacred program.

• Reading and executing Powell's sophisticated harmonic progressions
• Balancing exposed inner voice lines
• Interpreting text with theological and emotional nuance
• Managing phrase lengths and breath placement in sustained writing
• Ensemble listening across four independent vocal lines