Gloria (RV 589)

When a choir wants to pull out all the stops for a major feast day, Antonio Vivaldi’s "Gloria" is often the first piece that comes to mind. This opening movement is famous for its bright, driving energy and those majestic, leaping shouts of praise that immediately grab the congregation's attention. It carries a sense of pure, uncontained joy that fits perfectly at the height of the Christmas or Easter seasons.

Singing this piece is a thrilling workout for any choir. The sopranos lead the charge with crisp, rhythmic declarations, while the lower voices echo and support, building up to the grand "in excelsis Deo." Having this grand classical work transcribed into tonic sol-fa is a huge gift for our choirs, allowing us to bring a piece of choral history right into the loft for Sunday Mass.