Exsultate Justi: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Crocker's setting of this Latin text brings textural clarity and musical accessibility to a sacred Latin text without sacrificing artistic integrity. The 2-part voicing allows younger or less experienced singers to engage with concert repertoire that sounds sophisticated and rewarding. Her years developing choral materials shine through in writing that sits beautifully in the voice.

The piece radiates jubilation and affirmation, its Latin text setting a ceremonial yet intimate tone. The 2-part writing creates a conversational, interlocking quality where voices seem to celebrate together rather than in unison.

This octavo serves intermediate to early advanced choirs seeking concert and festival repertoire with modest forces. It works equally well for middle school choirs ready to expand beyond English texts and high school groups building a diverse repertoire across languages and styles.

• Shape the Latin text with natural speech rhythm rather than syllabic rigidity; let the melodic contour guide phrasing across phrase boundaries.
• Balance the two parts so neither overwhelms; this voicing thrives when both lines feel equally important and heard.
• Consider the acoustic properties of your performance space when determining tempo; allow sufficient resonance for the full harmonic color to develop.
• Attend to vowel consistency across the ensemble, especially in the Latin syllables, to maintain blend and projection.

Place this on a concert program to anchor a themed set exploring sacred texts, or program it as the capstone to a festival entry list. It pairs naturally alongside other concert octavos in a mixed-language concert or serves as the closer to a secular choral showcase.

• Latin text pronunciation and diction
• Two-part voicing independence
• Phrase shaping and breath control
• Harmonic listening and blend
• Concert repertoire interpretation