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Plaudite: 2-Part Choral Octavo

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Plaudite: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Plaudite: 2-Part Choral Octavo

(Plaudite Omnis Terra)

Music and additional words by Victor C. Johnson

Item: 00-47091
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Description
Victor Johnson delivers the ultimate festival opener with this joyful mixed-meter selection meaning "clap your hands, all the earth." A strong minor-key motive, harmonized in sturdy open fifths, is punctuated by rhythmic handclaps. A contrasting section quiets the middle before a brief accelerando builds back to the triumphant return of opening material. Prominent dynamics and captivating rhythms create excitement.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
UPC: 038081538624
SKU: 00-47091

More about this title

About the Composer: Victor C. Johnson

Victor C. Johnson

Victor C. Johnson serves as School Choral Editor for Sing!, the educational publishing division of Choristers Guild, bringing decades of experience in both composing and directing. A Dallas native, he has built an extensive catalog of over 500 choral works and vocal collections for publication. His career includes eighteen years directing choirs at Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, where he led the Academy Singers and Academy Men's Choir while serving as Artistic Director for the Singing Girls of Texas and Children's Choir of Texas.

Since 2022, Johnson has conducted the Dallas Symphony Children's Chorus Mixed Ensemble, working with advanced high school singers as the resident children's choir for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Active in professional organizations including the American Choral Directors Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, and the American Guild of Organists, Johnson remains deeply engaged in music education at multiple levels.

Why we love this

Johnson has crafted an opener that delivers immediate energy and accessibility without sacrificing musical substance. The interplay between the strong minor-key motif, open fifths, and rhythmic handclaps creates an engaging sound world that young singers grasp quickly, while the structural arc (contrast, accelerando, triumphant return) gives the piece real dramatic shape. Festival adjudicators and audiences both respond to this combination of joy and craftsmanship.

What to expect

Plaudite radiates celebration grounded in liturgical dignity. The minor-key opening feels reverent and powerful, anchored by those open fifths, before the rhythmic handclaps crack open into joy. When the middle section strips away to quietness, you feel the breath before the final surge, which returns transformed: the same material now unmistakably triumphant.

Who it's for

Middle school and high school choirs seeking a festival opener with genuine musical substance and immediate appeal. The 2-part voicing works well for developing singers or mixed ensembles with limited soprano or alto depth. Directors wanting a piece that energizes an audience while building ensemble skills will find this exceptionally useful.

How to get the most out of it

  • Treat the handclaps as a percussive voice equal to the singers; they should sound crisp and unified, not apologetic. Consider having the entire choir clap together or assigning specific voice parts to lead the rhythm.
  • Shape the middle contrasting section with genuine restraint; the quiet moment only works if singers understand it as architectural release, not as a moment to relax focus.
  • Build the accelerando gradually and deliberately. Resist the urge to jump tempo suddenly; let the mounting energy emerge from tightening rhythmic articulation and increased dynamic intensity.
  • Emphasize the open fifths in the harmony. These are intentionally sturdy and resonant; full voice production on the tonic and dominant will give the piece its intended power.

How to use it

Open a festival concert or competition set with this piece; its brevity and high energy reset the audience attention while your ensemble makes a strong entrance. Pair it with a longer contrasting work in a major key or with text in English to balance the Latin title and sacred character. Its architectural clarity makes it an excellent choice for demonstrating ensemble growth across a concert season.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and maintaining mixed meters with confidence
  • Producing clear, unified rhythmic articulation in handclap sections
  • Singing open interval harmony (perfect fifths) with resonance and precision
  • Understanding structural contrast and dramatic pacing through performance
  • Executing dynamic range from soft, focused singing to full, triumphant volume
  • Responding to accelerando as a musical device, not just a tempo instruction

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