Make a Joyful Noise: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Shaw writes with a natural understanding of what energizes singers and audiences alike. The African style rhythms and Swahili text create immediate cultural authenticity, while the bold arrangement delivers the kind of opening number that sets a confident tone for your entire concert program.

Bold and rhythmically infectious, with the warmth of African traditions infused into Shaw's bright harmonic language. The Swahili text carries genuine meaning about hope and community, so the piece feels both celebratory and purposeful rather than superficial.

Choirs seeking a high-impact opening number or signature piece that showcases both vocal unity and cultural awareness. This works for advanced high school choirs, collegiate ensembles, and community choruses looking to broaden their repertoire beyond European traditions.

• Lean into the rhythmic drive and let the percussion parts anchor the groove; this piece thrives on precision in the rhythm section, so lock those parts early in rehearsal
• Teach the Swahili text as a group from day one, using the recorded accompaniment to model proper pronunciation and phrasing
• Build energy gradually through the piece by encouraging singers to connect the text's message of hope and caring to their vocal commitment

Program this as your concert opener to immediately capture audience attention with its energy and novelty, or feature it as a thematic anchor if your program explores global music or social responsibility. Its confident character makes it equally effective as a closing number that leaves listeners feeling uplifted.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated African-influenced patterns
• Pronunciation and phrasing in a non-English language
• Blending and balance across multiple vocal lines in a contemporary harmonic context
• Connecting textual meaning to vocal expression and energy