Exsultate Justi: SSATB(B), a cappella or Accompanied Choral Octavo

Energetic and celebratory, with the Latin text given a contemporary rhythmic treatment. The piece builds through layered vocal textures that create a sense of mounting joy; the alternating gender blocks feel almost dialogical, as if different voices of the choir are responding to and energizing each other.

Intermediate choirs seeking a concert or contest piece that delivers impact without overwhelming difficulty. This works equally well for high school ensembles, community choruses, or competitive festival settings where you want something that sounds substantial but remains teachable.

• Lock the rhythm section (lower voices and any brass accompaniment) first to establish the foundational pulse; treble voices will follow more confidently once the groove is set
• Shape the dynamic contrasts deliberately. The piece gains momentum through the alternation between men's and women's voices, so commit fully to each section rather than singing through transitions
• Balance the divisi passages by having singers know their specific line in advance and rehearsing those sections in quartets or smaller groups before bringing everyone together
• Treat the "walls of sound" as peaks in the architecture. Breathe together and reset between major sectional shifts to keep the energy fresh

Program this as a mid-to-closing number in a concert where you want to leave audiences with genuine excitement. Its contest-ready credentials make it natural for a competitive festival or invitational, and the optional brass arrangement lets you showcase it as either a pure vocal statement or a fuller ensemble piece depending on what your concert program needs.

• Rhythmic precision and ensemble synchronization across alternating vocal sections
• Dynamic contrast and shaping within choral blocks
• Divisi management and independence within a four-part texture
• Latin diction and resonance in a driven, contemporary harmonic context
• Balance and blend when optional brass parts are present