THE HEAVENS ARE TELLING

When a choir wants to pull out all the stops for a grand celebration or a special concert, Franz Joseph Haydn's "The Heavens Are Telling" is a magnificent choice. Taken from his famous oratorio *The Creation*, this piece is a thrilling workout for any four-part choir. The text draws directly from Psalm 19, opening with a massive, joyful declaration of God's glory before giving way to the intricate, weaving lines of the soloists.

Singing this piece is an experience in contrasts. We start with the full chorus delivering those bold, unshakeable opening chords. Then, the music scales back for the trio sections—representing the archangels Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael—where the voices pass the melody back and forth like a conversation about the passing of day and night. By the time the full choir returns for the final, sweeping pages, the energy in the choir loft is electric. It is a demanding piece to learn, especially keeping the fast-moving solfa notes crisp and precise, but the sheer joy it brings to both the singers and the congregation makes every rehearsal worthwhile.