A Conductor’s Analysis of Three Choral Works by Jennifer Higdon

This document explores various sacred and mystical choral compositions written by Jennifer Higdon in order to reveal stylistic traits as they appear in her choral works. The pieces that will be examined include folk song arrangements and original compositions, with analysis focusing on A Quiet Moment, O magnum mysterium, and Sanctus. The document will explore style features, unifying elements, performance considerations, and level of difficulty for Higdon’s choral repertoire. These elements will be explored in an effort to raise awareness of her choral literature, and to aid conductors in the rehearsal and performance process as it relates to her music. Although much of Higdon’s instrumental music is found in various studies and dissertations, her choral literature has been largely overlooked to this point in scholarly writings. This document will shine a light on some of Higdon’s choral compositions. Higdon’s biography and compositional style will be summarized. Background, compositional style, form and structure, text setting and performance considerations will be considered for each work. Difficulty level of various works will briefly be considered. Various scholarly documents, interviews, and personal e-mail communications will be used to inform analysis. Previously published analyses of her other compositions will be investigated to help define stylistic traits and provide a lens to compare and contrast the style of these choral works. With this analysis, this document aims to place these choral works alongside the other renowned musical works of Jennifer Higdon