Psalm 98 (Sing! Sing! Sing!): SATB Choral Octavo

The piece pulses with genuine exuberance rather than manufactured excitement. There's a modernist clarity to Bowen's harmonies that feels both accessible and intellectually engaging, with moments of textural transparency that let individual voices shine through the fuller passages.

This octavo suits intermediate to advanced choirs seeking contemporary sacred repertoire with real musical substance. It works equally well for festival programming or worship contexts where congregational connection matters.

• Establish a steady pulse early in rehearsals, as the rhythmic independence between parts will feel unmoored without a secure foundation from your conducting.
• Pay particular attention to vowel unity on the repeated "Sing!" exclamations; their impact depends on clean, synchronized articulation across all four parts.
• Balance the upper voices carefully during full sections to prevent sopranos and altos from overshadowing the harmonic support beneath them.

Consider pairing this with other contemporary psalm settings for a thematic concert section, or program it as a spring concert centerpiece where its joyful character provides an emotional anchor. Its thirteen pages make it substantial enough to warrant serious rehearsal time without becoming unwieldy.

• rhythmic independence and ensemble precision
• sustaining clarity in dense harmonic textures
• vocal stamina during repeated exclamatory phrases
• interpreting contemporary notation and articulation
• connecting text expression to musical gesture