Angels We Have Heard on High: SATB Choral Octavo
Traditional French Carol / arr. Kirby Shaw
Item: 00-PO-0001799
$1.85
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Related Items
Angels We Have Heard on High: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download |
$27.99
|
View | |
Angels We Have Heard on High: SAB Choral Octavo |
$1.85
|
View | |
Angels We Have Heard on High: 2-Part Choral Octavo |
$1.85
|
View | |
Angels We Have Heard on High: SATB Choral Octavo |
$1.85
|
View | |
Angels We Have Heard on High: SAB Choral Octavo |
$1.85
|
View | |
Angels We Have Heard on High: 2-Part Choral Octavo |
$1.85
|
View | |
Angels We Have Heard on High: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD |
$27.99
|
View |
Description
With verses in 5/4 and a jazz waltz refrain, Kirby's mellow rendition of this familiar carol is something truly fresh. An optional flute solo (available free at alfred.com/choralparts) is a hip addition to smooth choral parts that are a blast to sing. A highly creative take on a song that everyone knows!
Angels We Have Heard on High: SATB 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-0001799
More about this title
About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw has shaped choral music education across North America, Europe, and beyond, bringing performance experience and pedagogical insight to every arrangement he creates. Trained in both music education and choral composition at San Jose State University, with a doctoral degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington, Shaw has directed award-winning vocal jazz ensembles at multiple universities and founded the acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble at College of the Siskiyous. His work as a vocal improviser has connected him with jazz legends including Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks.
With over 2500 choral arrangements and compositions in print and nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide, Shaw's output has earned multiple ASCAP awards and commissions from major choirs including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. His teaching style blends humor with deep musical knowledge, and he continues to direct the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University while remaining active as a composer, arranger, and member of the a cappella ensemble Just 4 Kicks.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw takes a standard holiday carol and rewires it entirely, landing on an arrangement that feels both sophisticated and singable. The rhythmic shift into 5/4 for verses paired with a jazz waltz refrain gives singers a puzzle to solve that's genuinely engaging, not just decorative. Directors looking for a carol that refreshes tired holiday rotations will find this delivers the familiarity audiences crave alongside genuine musical surprise.
What to expect
Mellow and hip, this arrangement wraps the familiar carol in a warm jazzy envelope that feels both reverent and playful. The rhythmic conversation between 5/4 verses and waltz refrain creates forward motion and subtle sophistication without ever losing the song's essential character.
Who it's for
Choirs comfortable with rhythmic independence and singers who enjoy jazz idioms will thrive with this arrangement. Holiday programs seeking something beyond standard carols benefit from Kirby Shaw's combination of accessibility and sophistication.
How to get the most out of it
- Spend rehearsal time locking in the 5/4 meter before layering parts; rhythmic security here frees singers to enjoy the swing of the jazz waltz sections.
- The optional flute solo (downloadable free from alfred.com/choralparts) serves as a smooth interlude and can be a natural staging point for conducting gesture clarity when parts overlap.
- Balance the arrangement's jazz vocabulary with clean vowel unification; these smoother, more horizontal lines need precision more than volume.
- Recorded accompaniment allows rehearsal flexibility and gives singers the chance to hear the harmonic context before sectional work begins.
How to use it
Position this midway through a holiday concert to shift energy; it bridges between traditional and contemporary programming while maintaining the season's warmth. Pair it with straightforward carols on either side to let the arrangement's jazz vocabulary stand out without overwhelming the program's overall arc.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and singing in 5/4 meter
- Jazz interpretation and swing style
- Rhythmic independence across voice parts
- Harmonic cohesion in jazz voicings
- Blending smooth, horizontal melodic lines