Jabula Jesu is based on an African folk song which also appears in an alternate form in Hatfield’s African Celebration. It allows within an orthodox choral setting, an unorthodox taste of the African love for layering ostinatos and polyrhythms. Because the ostinatos are very catchy, and are recycled throughout the piece, Jabula Jesu is not hard to learn, and yet creates very rich textures that allow for great variety in shaping and phrasing. The piece can be performed completely unaccompanied, but two or more percussionists can be added as desired.