Rejoice!

Rejoice! is a carol filled with pure, unbridled joy and celebration, with peals of bells ringing out with sharply accented resonant chords, richly crafted contrapuntal sections reminiscent of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and modal twists inspired by Howells: in many ways, the carol can be seen as a longstanding chorister’s homage to the joys of singing praises at Chrismastide through a wealth of seasonal classics. The main melodic material is derived from the Christmas Day plainchant Viderunt Omnes, transforming it into an unabashed declamation of rejoicing with a contrasting central section that reflects more intimately and soulfully upon the idea Christmas mystery: the righteousness and salvation of God being revealed to mankind through Christ.