Holiday Pops Music ~
CHAMBER Orchestra & Chorus
“Joy to the World!”
(An arrangement of the popular carol)
See Description, Instrumentation, and Text Info at bottom of page.
SOUND CLIP / FULL SCORE EXCERPT
SCORING: SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra* and organ
* See the “Instrumentation” tab below.
Note: This piece will soon be available for chorus and FULL orchestra.
AUDIENCE: Suitable for a concert or church setting — DURATION: ca. 2:40
DIFFICULTY FOR CHORUS: 3/5 — DIFFICULTY FOR ORCHESTRA: 4/5
PDF PRICE: $200 / HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER
NOTES:
♦ This piece is suitable for a concert or church setting.
♦ When performed as a congregational hymn arrangement in a church service, the congregation sings the melody in unison (with the choir) in verses 1 and 3, and the choir sings alone in verse 2.
DESCRIPTION
This is a dramatic “Hollywood-style” setting of the popular carol, and would be a perfect closing number for your holiday concert. The 2nd verse features a fugue, and the 3rd verse ends the piece on a grand, thrilling note.
INSTRUMENTATION
CHOIR: SATB (minimal divisi)
WOODWINDS: 1 Flute (doubles on Piccolo), 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet in Bb,
1 Bassoon
BRASS: 1 Horn, 1 Trumpet in C
PERCUSSION: 1 percussionist on the following instruments: Glockenspiel, Chimes, Piatti, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle
HARP: 1 Harp
KEYBOARD: Organ
STRINGS: 4,4,2,2,1, but the violins could be reduced to 3,3 or even 2,2
TEXT INFO
Joy to the World
Words by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Complete text:
Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the world! The Savior reigns!
Let us our songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.
