Angels We Have Heard on High: SAB Choral Octavo
Traditional French Carol / arr. Kirby Shaw
Item: 00-PO-0001800
$1.85
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001800
More about this title
About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw brings three decades of choral music innovation to educators across North America, Europe, and beyond. A graduate of San Jose State University (Music Education and Choral Composition) and the University of Washington (DMA in Choral Conducting), Shaw has spent his career building award-winning vocal jazz ensembles at Colorado State University, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and Southern Oregon University, while mentoring singers in styles from Bobby McFerrin to Jon Hendricks. His teaching combines deep technical knowledge with infectious enthusiasm.
As a composer and arranger, Shaw has placed over 2,500 works in print, with nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide. His catalog spans educational choral music, college and university recordings, and commercial albums, earning him multiple ASCAP awards and commissions from major institutions including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Beyond sheet music, Shaw co-authored the original musical Scroogical with his wife Markita, adapting Dickens' classic for the stage.
Why we love this
This arrangement flips a centuries-old carol on its head without losing its warmth. The rhythmic complexity of 5/4 verses paired with a swaying jazz waltz refrain challenges singers in refreshing ways, while the optional flute solo (free to download) adds professional polish without demanding extra rehearsal time. Directors looking for a Christmas piece that surprises audiences and energizes singers will find this earns its place in any concert.
What to expect
Serene and swaying, with an undercurrent of cool sophistication. The 5/4 verses float with a contemplative ease, then the piece settles into a dreamy waltz where jazz voicings replace traditional hymnal harmony. This is reverent without being stiff, celebratory without being loud.
Who it's for
SAB choirs with rhythmic confidence and a willingness to explore contemporary jazz reharmonization of familiar repertoire. This arrangement works for high school choirs, college non-majors, and community ensembles seeking a carol that feels both accessible and sophisticated. Singers who thrive on harmonic color and syncopation will especially enjoy the creative scoring.
How to get the most out of it
- Nail the metric transition between the 5/4 verses and the waltz refrain by locking in the pulse with your piano/accompaniment player in early rehearsals; once singers feel confident, the shift becomes elegant rather than jarring.
- Encourage a conversational, relaxed tone in the verses to match the jazz idiom; overly formal choral tone will fight the style of the writing.
- If using the flute solo, give that soloist the space to breathe and phrase musically; this is a featured moment that deserves gentle accompaniment from the choir.
- Layer the waltz refrain gradually through rehearsal so singers internalize the lilt before adding text and full harmony.
How to use it
Open a holiday concert with this piece to signal that familiar doesn't mean predictable, or place it mid-program as a palate-cleansing moment between more traditional carols and secular winter music. The 12-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a set but nimble enough to pair with shorter pieces. Consider performing it early enough in the season that your singers can fully explore the rhythmic and harmonic nuances without holiday fatigue.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and singing in 5/4 meter
- Shifting between 5/4 and 3/4 with metric clarity
- Jazz voicing and harmony interpretation in SAB texture
- Maintaining groove in a waltz context while singing text
- Blending three-part mixed voicing with cohesive tone