John Purifoy has established himself as a prolific composer and arranger for choral music, with a particular gift for sacred works that balance accessibility with musical substance. His compositions often draw on liturgical texts and themes, creating settings that engage both singers and audiences through clear, expressive writing and thoughtful harmonic language.
Why we love this
Purifoy's text setting here is luminous and direct. The psalmaic poetry finds its natural musical home in a piece that feels both contemporary and timeless, giving your singers something genuinely expressive to perform rather than another competent choral workout.
What to expect
This is music of quiet affirmation and joy. The text's image of rivers clapping their hands evokes both celebration and the patient, flowing power of water carving through landscape. Purifoy's setting captures both the quieter reverence and the undercurrent of gladness that the poetry contains.
Who it's for
Sacred choirs of intermediate ability will find this accessible yet musically rewarding. It works equally well for concert worship settings, festival programs, or community choral groups seeking repertoire with substance that doesn't require virtuosic singers.
How to get the most out of it
Emphasize the imagery of the text by shaping phrases as though they're natural speech, letting the rivers themselves guide your phrasing arcs rather than forcing metronomic regularity.
Balance the SATB voices transparently in rehearsal; with only three pages, every voice line contributes to the overall character, so make sure sopranos and altos aren't drowning out the harmonic foundation.
Find the dramatic apex of the piece and build toward it deliberately, resisting the urge to sing at full volume from the top. Let the ending have room to breathe and resonate.
How to use it
Pair this with other sacred works for a thematic concert built around creation imagery or psalm texts. Its moderate length and three-page span make it ideal as a centerpiece selection that anchors a program without consuming rehearsal time needed for longer works.
Skills your students will build
Text declamation and interpretive phrasing in English
Balance and blend within SATB voicing
Harmonic awareness through four-part listening
Musical interpretation of liturgical poetry
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