Rejoice!

"Rejoice!" is a fun set of variations on the ancient Medieval carol (c. 1400), "In dulci jubilo". After a brilliant celebratory hint at the theme, a la Resphigi, different sections "rejoice" in a variety of ways. A brief collection of hockets across the orchestra provide a brief Baroque-like flavor with horns entering in a gentle Hindemithian quartal harmony. The strings take over with a jig-like section reminiscent of classic 20th-Century English string music, a la Holst in this instance. The brass, having sat listening, burst onto the scene with their own jazzier rendition in a semi-Big Band style a la Glenn Miller with the clarinets popping in for some Benny Goodman-like riffs. The strings soon return to add some flair and color. The carol then returns in a triumphant complete statement rising out of the orchestra before we end with a thrilling Mahlerian mashup and a brilliant final cadence. The piece was premiered by the Cambridge (MA) Symphony Orchestra as part of their Holiday Pops Concert, Dec. 16, 2023.