Gloria In Excelsis Deo: SAB Choral Octavo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo Sheet Music Preview

Gloria In Excelsis Deo: SAB Choral Octavo

By John Purifoy

Item: 35-DS00149752
Digital Download
$2.99
Description

Gloria In Excelsis Deo: SAB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS00149752

More about this title

About the Composer: John Purifoy

John Purifoy has established himself as a composer whose choral writing balances accessibility with musical substance. His arrangements and compositions for voices at all levels reflect a deep understanding of what singers can achieve when given clear harmonic foundation and singable melodic lines.

Purifoy's work appears regularly in school and community choral programs, where directors appreciate his practical approach to part-writing and his respect for the capabilities of developing musicians.

Why we love this

Purifoy's setting cuts through the clutter by letting the text sit naturally within the harmonic language. The SAB voicing sidesteps the unison trap that often weakens three-part arrangements, giving each voice genuine musical material. For festivals or contests, this piece delivers dignity without demanding superhuman ranges or Byzantine tuning challenges.

What to expect

The Gloria unfolds with a reverent quality that respects the text without becoming ponderous. Harmonic movement feels inevitable rather than forced, and the piece builds its emotional trajectory through careful voice leading rather than volume or register extremes.

Who it's for

Middle school through adult choirs seeking a Latin text piece that sits comfortably in the SAB range. Programs looking to program a concert or festival piece with both musical substance and reasonable technical demands will find this a solid choice.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the phrase architecture by identifying the strongest arrival points; resist the temptation to push through the entire piece at one dynamic level.
  • Work the alto line independently until altos feel ownership of their harmonic role, then layer the other voices in gradually.
  • Attend carefully to the Latin text pronunciation; slight variation in vowel clarity between your sections will cloud the overall sound.
  • Consider where your basses might need doubling from the baritones or where the sopranos benefit from a soloist to anchor exposed passages.

How to use it

Include this as an opening number when you want to establish an elevated tone early in your program, or use it as a moment of reflection within a longer concert flow. It pairs well with other liturgical texts or works in the sacred concert tradition.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing Latin text with authentic pronunciation and clear diction
  • Reading and balancing three-part textures with distinct harmonic function for each voice
  • Sustaining long phrases while maintaining vowel consistency across the ensemble
  • Understanding harmonic function and how part-writing decisions affect overall sonority

You May Also Like