Celebramus: SATB Choral Octavo
By Jacob Narverud
Item: 00-PO-0007798
$2.60
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
In this impressive festival work by Jacob Narverud, a fanfare-like introduction sets an exuberant tone for the celebratory secular Latin text. Crisp, accented vocal motives echo to build layered textures before transitioning to a sophisticated B-section with legato lines. The piano accompaniment provides a solid foundation and many jubilant flourishes, with or without the optional cello and French horn obbligatos. An extraordinary selection for concert or contest!
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0007798
More about this title
About the Composer: Jacob Narverud
Jacob Narverud was born in Kansas in 1986 and has become one of the most performed contemporary choral composers in the United States. He founded and directs the Tallgrass Chamber Choir, a professional ensemble based in the Great Plains, and serves as editor for Santa Barbara Music Publishing. His works have been commissioned by more than fifty choral organizations across North America, Australia, and Japan, and many have achieved international recognition and consistent performance at all choir levels.
Why we love this
Narverud writes with genuine understanding of what makes a festival work sing. The fanfare opening immediately commands attention, and his use of layered, accented motives creates momentum without requiring advanced vocal technique. The shift to a legato B-section gives singers a chance to breathe and demonstrate musicality, making this piece rewarding for both high-energy moments and lyrical ones.
What to expect
Celebramus captures jubilant energy through its fanfare-driven opening and stacked vocal textures, then reveals sophistication when the legato B-section arrives. The piece balances exuberance with musicality, moving from rhythmic snap to flowing legato in a way that keeps listeners engaged.
Who it's for
This work suits intermediate to advanced SATB choirs preparing for concert performances, festival competitions, or showcase events. Directors seeking a secular Latin text that feels celebratory without requiring soloists or unusual voicing will find immediate appeal here.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening fanfare with crisp articulation in all four voices; the text-painting here sets up the entire mood, so clarity matters more than volume.
- Balance the obbligato parts (cello and French horn) during rehearsal as optional enrichment rather than structural necessity, allowing flexibility based on your ensemble's resources.
- Mark the transition into the B-section carefully; the shift from accented, energetic writing to legato lines requires a deliberate change in vocal approach and breath management.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the rhythmic precision of the opening motives, especially if your pianists are new to the piece's syncopated flourishes.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener or as a strategic piece within a set of contrasting repertoire; its brightness and celebratory spirit pair well before or after more introspective works. For festival adjudication, it demonstrates technical control, blend, and stylistic range in one sixteen-page package.
Skills your students will build
- Layered texture singing with independent rhythmic motives
- Accented articulation and crisp consonant coordination across four voices
- Transitions between accented and legato singing styles within a single piece
- Balance and blend with optional instrumental obbligatos
- Sustained legato phrasing in the B-section