O be Joyful in the Lord 4-Part - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1817233

'O be Joyful in the Lord' is a rousing and celebratory SATB choral anthem that uses Psalm 100 as its text. This 2026 modal piece was a response to a composition competition via the Royal School of Church Music, and was commissioned via a private patron. The work is dedicated to Revd Thomas Hurst who was Curate of Prescot Parish Church, Merseyside, at the time, and had just been awarded a B.A. Degree in Theology from the University of Durham. 'O be Joyful' is in a clear ternary structure. Outer sections feature an arresting and noble unison melody, harmonised in parallel triads. A chromatic build-up leads to a contrasting middle section in two main parts. The first has a martial bass line below alternating upper and lower voice phrases. The second section is based on a bell-like 'circle of fifths' chord sequence, with canonic interchanges between choral parts. This leads to a varied return of the joyous opening material, later over an affirmative tonic/dominant ostinato bass line, which leads to a thrilling, high register coda. The work is highly accessible for the listener, and is very singable for most standards of mixed choir and accompanist. The full audio track provided is a recording made on the first performance day (23/2/26) by the St. Edward's College Massed House Choirs (200 singers), with the composer at the piano and Matthew O'Keeffe conducting, at the College's House Choir Competition, St. Edward's College, Sandfield Park, Liverpool, UK. This piece is also available in versions for solo or unison voices & piano/organ, for two-part choir or duet & piano/organ, and for solo piano (titled 'Laetus'); all are available via SMP.
Duration: 3 minutes.
Registered with PRS (Performing Rights Society, UK).
Composer's website: www.roberthowardmusic.co.uk