Exsultate Justi: SATB Choral Octavo

This arrangement by Dave and Jean Perry takes a film score of genuine emotional depth and shapes it into something that works brilliantly for the choral stage. The orchestration choices honor Williams's harmonic language while making the piece accessible to choirs at different skill levels; you get the sweep and grandeur without impossible technical demands. It's the kind of work that reminds singers why they joined the choir in the first place.

Luminous and soaring. The piece carries an almost hymn-like dignity, with rich harmonic movement that creates depth without heaviness. There's an underlying sense of yearning and celebration woven throughout, qualities that make the work feel both timeless and cinematic.

Any SATB choir looking to expand its sacred repertoire with music of real substance. The arrangement works for high school and college choirs as well as church and community ensembles; the musical language is sophisticated without requiring advanced sight-reading skills from every section.

• Shape the phrase lines with attention to Williams's characteristic long melodic arcs; resist breaking the line at obvious harmonic points.
• Blend the four voice parts so that no single line dominates; this is not a soprano showcase, but a unified harmonic structure.
• If using the available instrumental parts, allow them to support the choir's entrances clearly rather than covering the voices; the arrangement works best when ensemble and choir breathe together.

This works beautifully as a centerpiece on a concert devoted to sacred or concert choral music. It also pairs well with other serious choral fare from the classical and contemporary repertoire, holding its own musically while offering audiences a familiar name and accessible beauty. Consider programming it in a spring concert where the luminous quality can be fully appreciated.

• Singing sustained legit lines across changing harmonic movement
• Voice part independence in four-part SATB writing
• Blend and balance in rich harmonic textures
• Phrasing and breath management in longer melodic passages