A Newer World: SAB Choral Octavo
Words from "Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, music by Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0003672
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
Anthemic, heroic, and bold, the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson spring to life through superb choral writing and a stirring piano accompaniment. A powerful opening theme builds to a final avalanche of sound, evoking the spirit of adventure. "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
A Newer World: SAB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003672
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin stands among today's most performed choral composers, with conducting credits that span Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Sydney Opera House. His arrangements and original compositions have earned him ASCAP recognition and a leadership role as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, positioning him at the center of contemporary choral music publishing.
Beyond the choral podium, Gilpin has expanded his creative reach into film scoring (earning Best Score for the short film "Rosie's Rescue") and collaborative ventures with professional singers. He remains active in ACDA and NAfME, bringing both compositional sophistication and real-world conducting experience to every piece he writes for student ensembles.
Why we love this
Gilpin captures Tennyson's spirit of relentless pursuit without sounding derivative or overwrought. The anthemic quality builds organically from a compelling opening theme to a climactic finish, giving singers a journey that feels earned rather than imposed. For concert programs and festivals, this piece lands with authority while remaining accessible to solid community and school choirs.
What to expect
From its first stirring moment, the piece evokes the restless energy of Tennyson's Ulysses, an aging captain still reaching for the horizon. The music swells and deepens as voices layer in, building to a swell that feels both powerful and inevitable, like wind filling a sail.
Who it's for
Directors programming concert or festival events need repertoire that commands attention without overshooting their singers' abilities. This octavo serves skilled high school and community choirs that want to make a bold statement with a literary text of genuine substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the opening theme breathe as its own statement before the harmonic palette expands; resist rushing into the buildup.
- Balance the three parts so the SAB voicing remains cohesive during thick chordal sections rather than allowing sopranos to dominate.
- Shape the text "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield" with intentional clarity and forward motion, treating each phrase as a step toward resolution.
- Coordinate carefully with the pianist on the crescendos and the final avalanche of sound; the accompaniment amplifies ensemble energy only when voices commit fully.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece concert selection or a strong festival entry where literary depth and musical boldness matter equally. It pairs well alongside other secular choral works that explore themes of human resilience and ambition, creating a thematic arc across a full program.
Skills your students will build
- Blending multiple vocal lines within a three-part texture while maintaining dynamic balance
- Sustaining ensemble cohesion during extended crescendos and harmonic shifts
- Text clarity and expressive phrasing within an anthemic style
- Responding to piano accompaniment changes as a cue for building momentum