Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion

For any soprano soloist in the choir, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion" is one of those thrilling, mountain-peak pieces. Taken from the text of Zechariah, this famous aria is a staple of the Advent and Christmas seasons. When the choir is preparing for a major end-of-year concert or a festive Christmas Mass, this is the kind of solo that brings a sudden, bright energy to the loft. The rapid, dancing runs on the word "rejoice" demand breath control and agility, but when sung well, they sound like pure, bubbling joy.

The structure of the piece takes us through different moods. It opens with that unmistakable, leaping call to "rejoice greatly" and "shout," capturing the excitement of a city welcoming its king. Then, the tempo and feeling shift entirely for the middle section: "He is the righteous Saviour, and he shall speak peace unto the heathen." Here, the music stretches out into long, smooth phrases, offering a moment of calm and deep comfort before the initial joy comes rushing back in for the final section.

Having this piece available in tonic sol-fa is a huge help for our choristers who learn best by reading syllables. It allows a talented soprano who might not read staff notation to master the complex runs and rhythms of this classic oratorio movement. It is a demanding piece to rehearse, but hearing that final, triumphant "behold thy King cometh unto thee" ring out across the congregation makes all the practice worthwhile.