Exsultate Cantamos Festivo: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Althouse strips away complexity without sacrificing energy. The 2-part voicing sits comfortably for developing choirs, but the speech choir section and Latin/Spanish text keep the piece fresh and performable at a concert, not relegated to a warm-up slot. His accompaniment does the heavy lifting; let the piano and recorded brass or Latin groove carry the driving rhythm while your singers focus on clarity and confidence.

Festive and kinetic. The Latin and Spanish text conjure warmth and movement, and Althouse's rhythmic writing keeps the singers grounded in groove without forcing them into complex syncopation. The speech choir section lands like a spoken-word moment at a concert, theatrical and unexpected, before the choral sound returns with newfound energy.

This octavo works well for choirs ranging from middle school to adult levels that want accessible yet spirited concert repertoire. If your group sings in English primarily and you're looking to expand into world languages without tackling a lengthy learning curve, this piece delivers cultural color and rhythmic engagement without demanding vocal pyrotechnics.

• Separate rehearsals for the speech choir section will pay dividends. The rhythmic precision there sets up the choral return and gives you a theatrical moment that justifies the extra staging time.
• Layer in the recorded accompaniment early. Althouse writes the piano part with intention, and hearing it alongside the vocals helps singers find their pulse, especially in those rhythmic passages that could feel awkward without the full texture.
• Encourage crisp articulation on the Latin text; the rhythm section (whether brass or the recorded Latin track) will lock in tightly if your singers attack consonants with purpose.
• If you use the movement and staging elements, rehearse them separately from music rehearsal first. Clear blocking frees singers to breathe and phrase with confidence rather than thinking about their next step.

Program this as a mid-concert uplift or the centerpiece of a world music or multicultural set. It pairs naturally with other accessible Latin-influenced works and works equally well in spring concerts or events celebrating cultural diversity. The 12-page length and 2-part scoring make it feasible even for choirs juggling several pieces in a season.

• Rhythmic precision and syncopation in Latin/Spanish idiom
• Confident interpretation of Latin and Spanish text (pronunciation and phrasing)
• Ensemble tightness through work with recorded accompaniment
• Staging and movement integration with choral singing
• Transition between spoken text and sung melody