This Is the Day!: Choral Instrumental Pak

This anthem captures the celebratory pulse of Psalm 118 without sacrificing textual clarity or forcing students into awkward rhythmic contortions. Christopher's gift for balancing energy with singability means your singers get to feel the joy of the text while staying grounded in accessible vocal writing. The two-and-a-half-minute duration makes it a perfect opener or closer that doesn't overshadow the rest of your program.

Exuberant and driven. The rhythmic momentum propels the music forward while the text radiates celebration, creating an anthem that feels both reflective of its scriptural source and genuinely uplifting. There's a buoyancy to the harmonic language that makes singers feel lifted rather than weighted.

This works for choirs of intermediate ability and above who can handle rhythmic precision and energetic sustained singing. It fits equally well in concert settings, worship services, or festivals where you need a piece that commands attention without excessive technical demands.

• Let the rhythmic variety breathe. The excitement comes from how the rhythms interact with the text, not from rushing through them.
• Shape the dynamic arc intentionally. This piece crests naturally, so resist the urge to stay at forte; build gradually and let climactic moments land harder by contrast.
• Balance the instrumental parts so they enhance rather than compete with the choir line. The pak's instrumentation should feel like it's lifting the singers, not overwhelming them.

Open a concert with this anthem to establish an energetic tone immediately, or place it strategically in a sacred program where you want a moment of unambiguous joy. Its moderate length makes it an ideal pairing with a more introspective piece, creating dynamic contrast within a thematic set.

• Rhythmic precision in mixed meter contexts
• Clarity of diction at faster tempos
• Dynamic control and shaping through longer phrases
• Ensemble blend with instrumental accompaniment