Jubilate

Joyful music in the minor mode can be extremely effective, as this excellent canticle setting by Timothy Hagy shows. Strong motifs both in the organ and voices, resolute harmonic motion, and nimbly flexible meter changes embody the determined praise of the text. Hagy explores and develops the thematic material effectively without overusing ideas, yet there is no paucity of melodic ideas at work. While the organ supports the voices without ever competing, it never doubles them, contributing its own material as autonomous partner. Further, around half of the setting is unaccompanied, heightening the effect of the organ’s re- entrance at the Gloria Patri. The pacing is rather quick, with a lot of words in succession, yet the notes are of only moderate difficulty. Basses divide from time to time throughout the piece, as do the sopranos and altos at the a cappella cadence before the Gloria Patri. Otherwise, this piece would suit choirs of many sizes and abilities.
Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
March 2014