Cantate! Jubilate!
Words and music by Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid
Item: 00-PO-0007131
$2.20
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Sung mostly in English, this celebratory opener is about joyfully singing together. A bright rhythmic feel and well-crafted voice parts make this concert or festival piece both intuitive and enjoyable for younger singers. The main theme is restated throughout with variations that build to an exciting, descant-topped end.
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:
- Assignment, recording, and assessment tools within MakeMusic Cloud
- Part-predominant and accompaniment tracks
- Printable sheet music (with a standard MakeMusic Cloud subscription)
- Correlated rehearsal guides and performance notes
- Rights to perform in a live or virtual setting
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Additional Details
Series:
PerformancePlus+
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0007131
More about this title
About the Composer: Mary Donnelly
Mary Donnelly grew up in Reno, Nevada, and studied English and French at the University of Nevada before redirecting toward music education. She earned her Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her coursework centered on integrating the arts across curricula. She taught general music and choir in elementary and middle schools throughout the Washoe County School District for thirty years.
In 1985, Donnelly began a prolific collaborative partnership with George L. O. Strid while team-teaching a sixth grade music class. Their principal's request for a Reading Week musical sparked a creative relationship that has produced over two hundred songs and twenty-five musicals. Donnelly is a member of ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP, and continues to reside in Reno with her husband.
Why we love this
This piece captures the genuine joy of singing together without resorting to oversimplification. The rhythmic energy carries younger singers forward naturally, while Donnelly and Strid's careful voice writing ensures that all three parts feel equally rewarding to sing. The restatement of the main theme with variations gives the piece architectural substance, and that descant-topped climax delivers real excitement at the moment when your singers are most ready to give it.
What to expect
The piece radiates straightforward joy. The bright rhythmic character propels the work forward with infectious energy, while the restated theme with variations creates a sense of building celebration. By the time the descant enters, you can feel the momentum cresting into genuine jubilation.
Who it's for
This piece sits perfectly for treble and mixed choirs at the middle school level or younger high school ensembles seeking an energetic, accessible concert opener. The SAB voicing and singable melodic lines make it equally suitable for community choruses or festival settings where musical sophistication and musical enjoyment need to coexist.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the bright rhythmic character during early rehearsals; letting the groove establish itself will help singers internalize the pulse and carry their parts more independently.
- Shape the variations with subtle dynamic shifts rather than dramatic changes, so the building momentum feels organic rather than forced.
- Bring the descant entrance to life by balancing it just slightly above the main theme; this creates texture without burying the foundational harmony.
How to use it
Program this as your opening number for a spring or end-of-year concert, where it sets an immediately positive tone and draws your audience in. Its celebratory character and moderate length make it an excellent choice for festival competitions or combined choir performances where you want to showcase both polish and genuine musical spirit.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in three-part mixed voicing (SAB) with clear voice independence
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in a syncopated, groove-based texture
- Tracking a restated theme through variations and recognizing structural repetition with development
- Balancing ensemble sound while sustaining energy through multiple sections
- Blending new textural elements (descant) into an established harmonic foundation