Hodie: SATB Choral Octavo

Waggoner strikes an uncommon balance here, opening with authentic Renaissance flair before shifting into harmonic and modal territory that keeps singers engaged throughout the piece. The text is brief and familiar, which means your rehearsal time goes toward musical challenges rather than language parsing. This works as both a strong Christmas program anchor and a reprieve from heavier seasonal fare.

Jubilant and architecturally pleasing, with the swagger of a Renaissance trumpet call at the edges and warm harmonic color at the heart. The shifting tempi and modal changes create forward motion without restlessness, while the duple figures against compound meter add sparkle and contemporary interest to an ancient text.

SATB choirs seeking substantial Christmas repertoire that goes beyond traditional carols without demanding extensive rehearsal overhead. The piece works well for church choirs, community choruses, and strong high school programs that can navigate modal shifts and rhythmic variety.

• Mark the tempo shifts clearly in rehearsal; they define the emotional arc from fanfare to center to return, so singers need to hear and feel where the pulse settles at each section.
• Isolate the compound meter passages with duple eighth notes and drill them against the prevailing beat. These moments sparkle when rhythmically secure but muddy quickly if left vague.
• Balance the key and mode shifts by preparing them harmonically in warm-up; ask the choir to hear the new harmonic color as intentional brightness rather than confusion.
• Shape the closing fanfare to mirror the opening, giving the piece architectural satisfaction. This bookending rewards both singers and listeners.

Position this as the centerpiece of a Christmas concert, where its brief text and strong opening can anchor a varied program. It pairs well alongside a mix of carol arrangements and longer choral works, offering contrast in both length and musical language while remaining thoroughly seasonal.

• Reading and maintaining compound meter with duple figure overlays
• Navigating key and mode shifts through harmonic listening
• Managing multiple tempo changes within a single piece
• Balancing part independence in Renaissance-style counterpoint
• Singing Latin text with clear diction and musical phrase