Cantate, Exsultate: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Waggoner crafts a text setting that feels natural across two parts, letting treble singers breathe and phrase without straining for control. The strategic placement of a third-line descant near the end rewards singers who have mastered the foundational parts and adds concert polish without requiring massive expansion of the score.

Cantate, Exsultate radiates quiet joy and celebration. The flowing melody invites singers into a meditative space before the descant lifts the texture skyward, creating a moment of genuine uplift that feels earned rather than imposed.

Treble choirs at any age level will find this accessible and musically rewarding. The two-part writing accommodates singers still developing range and confidence while the optional descant challenges your strongest singers.

• Explore how the Latin words "Cantate" and "Exsultate" sit rhythmically within the English text; this alternation creates natural punctuation that helps singers understand phrase structure.
• Have the descant group rehearse independently first, then layer it over the established two-part foundation so they can lock into the harmonic context without pulling focus.
• Shape the flowing melody with legit legit tone; resist the urge to rush, since the text setting rewards singers who sustain vowels cleanly across bar lines.

This works beautifully as an opening piece for a concert where you want to set a reverent, celebratory tone. Its moderate length and two-part structure make it ideal for festival entries where you want to showcase both clarity and maturity without overextending your ensemble's resources.

• Singing Latin pronunciation and text clarity within English poetry
• Sustaining legato phrasing across longer melodic lines
• Part independence in homophonic textures
• Blending with a descant layer added to an established harmonic foundation