Jubilate Deo, for orchestra. 2022. 2222–2200–timp–str, 5’30”. Premiered 22 Oct 2022 by the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, Sheldon Bair conducting.
This is a transcription for chamber orchestra of my 2019 choral work, Jubilate Deo, celebrating 40 years of John French’s teaching at Ursinus College. Mark Huxsoll, director of the Temple University Music Preparatory Division, was at that premiere, and thought it would work well, adapted for the strings of their Youth Chamber Orchestra. They premiered the new version in December 2022, after a couple of pandemic postponements. I told Sheldon Bair about this piece when he asked me for a festive opening work for Susquehanna’s post-pandemic 2022/23 season. He liked the string version and wondered about a chamber orchestra version, which I was happy to provide.
Here’s the premiere, Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, Sheldon Bair conducting, 22 Oct 2022:
The text and translation of the original:
Jubilate Deo, omnis terra;
Servite Domino in lætitia. Introite in conspectu ejus in exsultatione.
Scitote quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus;
ipse fecit nos, et non ipsi nos:
populus ejus, et oves pascuæ ejus.
Introite portas ejus in confessione;
atria ejus in hymnis:
confitemini illi. Laudate nomen ejus,
quoniam suavis est Dominus, in æternum misericordia ejus,
et usque in generationem et generationem veritas ejus.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.
—Psalm 100