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Description
A Psalm setting for soprano with piano accompaniment. An SATB arrangement is also available. Difficulty: 4/5. Duration: 3' 15".

Program Notes
Shout For Joy is characterized by a dance-like treatment of the greater part of the text, accenting colorful phrases such as “let the rivers clap their hands” and “let the mountains sing together for joy.” Near the end, the primary rhythmic figure subsides into a quiet ostinato over which the singer chants: “For he comes to judge the earth, he will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity,” finally almost whispering, “Shout, shout for joy to the Lord.”

This bittersweet treatment of the concept of judgment is an example of how music can illuminate a theological concept. The final judgment is sweet in that it means the end of evil and injustice, but bitter in that there will be what Jesus described as “weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Any exultation one would take in the former thought must be tempered by a sober recognition of the latter.

Text: Psalm 98
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea resound, and everything in it
    the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
    let the mountains sing together for joy;
Let them sing before the Lord,
Shout for joy to the Lord.
    for He comes to judge the earth
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.

—Psalm 98:4-9 NIV

Commission and Performance History
Shout for Joy to the Lord was premiered on May 12, 1990 at the Fort Washington Collegiate Church in New York City by Paula Florea with Jon Quinn accompanying. It was recorded in 2001 by Doris Fuqua for her CD Morning (CladieBea@aol.com).