Composer

:

William Walton

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Anthem

Compose Date

:

1971 - 1972

Average_duration

:

3:54

Jubilate Deo is a choral work composed by William Walton in 1973. It was commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral in London to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the cathedral's founding. The piece was premiered on June 28, 1974, at a special service held at St. Paul's Cathedral. Jubilate Deo is a single-movement work that lasts approximately six minutes. It is scored for mixed choir, organ, and brass ensemble. The piece is characterized by its joyful and exuberant nature, as befits a work celebrating a significant milestone in the life of St. Paul's Cathedral. The work begins with a fanfare-like introduction played by the brass ensemble, which sets the celebratory tone for the piece. The choir then enters with a series of joyful and energetic phrases, singing the text "O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands." The organ provides a steady accompaniment throughout the piece, adding to the sense of grandeur and celebration. As the piece progresses, the choir and brass ensemble engage in a call-and-response dialogue, with the choir singing phrases such as "Serve the Lord with gladness" and "Be ye sure that the Lord he is God," and the brass responding with triumphant fanfares. The piece builds to a climax with the choir and brass ensemble singing and playing together in a powerful and joyful expression of praise. Overall, Jubilate Deo is a vibrant and uplifting work that showcases Walton's skill as a composer of choral music. Its premiere at St. Paul's Cathedral was a fitting tribute to the cathedral's long and storied history, and the piece continues to be performed and enjoyed by choirs and audiences around the world.

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