Gaudete

Gaudete

This arrangement of the 16th-century carol was written during a full weekend of group composition with Anna Lapwood and the Pembroke College Girls’ Choir, a process with which they had experimented previously. The choir decided to create rhythmic impetus and drive, which is delivered from the outset in the introductory material. This figure is repeated under the refrain for the first three verses, while the verses themselves are presented in simple unison. The final verse is harmonised and crescendos towards the uplifting key change for the final refrain, giving a sense of climax, which may be highlighted further with an optional tambourine.