Joy! Reconstructed is a one movement collage of music based on three well-known tunes: "Jesu, Joy of a Man's Desiring" (Bach), "Hymn to Joy" (from Beethoven's 9th Symphony), and "Joy to the World" (a Christmas carol based on a portion of Handel's"Messiah')

Opening with a brass fanfare introducing a version of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and concluding with brief references from Joy to the World and Hymn to Joy, the music quickly breaks into an energetic and jazz oriented rendition of Hymn to Joy, which includes a loud and brassy hit taken from the B section of Beethoven's work. Immediately, the music shifts into a straight four feel in which "Joy to the World" is given a circus style treatment. Following Joy to the World, the piece returns to Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring which is sung by the trumpets and upper woodwinds above the rest of the ensemble. After a brief percussion break, it slows very abruptly into a minor version of Hymn to Joy featuring a trombone/mellophone duet. A mello solo follows with a slower version of Jesu growing to a major rendition of Hymn to Joy. The show moves to a recapitulation of the first jazz-like Hymn to Joy with a few minor twists. Shifting to a straight rendition of Joy to the World in which Hymn to Joy is made reference to by a trumpet fanfare. Further development of the Joy themes take place, eventually culminating in the finale section - beginning softly and growing to a loud and triumphant finish.

Joy! Reconstructed Is truly a fresh treatment of some very familiar pieces while allowing for an abundance of visual possibilities - your students will love performing it as much as your audience loves to hear it!