for SSATB unaccompanied Make we joy now in this fest is a lively and vibrant setting of a 15th-century macaronic text. An eminently memorable and energetic chorus frames expressive verses that vividly illuminate the medieval words through McDowall's masterful use of modal harmonies. A light, dance-like feel in the chorus, created through detailed articulation and phrasing, contrasts with the more declamatory verses.