Anthem: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00413768
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Description
This soulful ballad by the late and legendary Canadian poet Leonard Cohen is timeless and at the same time timely. It speaks to hope in the darkness and implores us all to make better what we can affect. The arrangement has interpreted the melody and created a contemporary setting of this powerful song.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00413768
More about this title
About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw's fingerprints are on choral music education across North America, Europe, and beyond. With degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, Shaw has spent decades building vocal programs that balance rigor with joy. He founded and directed the acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble at College of the Siskiyous, then brought similar ensembles to Colorado State University and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. His teaching style blends deep musicianship with humor and infectious energy.
Shaw's compositional and arranging catalog spans over 2,500 works, with nearly 20 million copies in circulation worldwide. He has mentored one-on-one with legends including Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks. His prolific output has earned multiple ASCAP awards, and his most recent commission came from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Beyond the concert hall, Shaw co-wrote the original musical Scroogical with his wife, Markita, adapting Dickens' A Christmas Carol for stage.
Why we love this
Shaw takes Cohen's profound meditation on hope and resilience and transforms it into a contemporary choral vehicle that speaks directly to young musicians. The arrangement honors the song's emotional weight while opening it up for ensemble singing, making this accessible without sacrificing the weight of the original. This is the kind of inspirational repertoire that sticks with students long after the concert ends.
What to expect
The arrangement wraps Cohen's timeless meditation in a contemporary sonic landscape, moving between introspection and gentle affirmation. You'll feel the longing in the melody and the quiet resolve in the harmonic movement, inviting singers and listeners alike to sit with both the darkness and the hope the text offers.
Who it's for
This works for concert choirs of any size seeking meaningful contemporary repertoire with substance and accessibility. It suits directors building programs around themes of resilience, community, or social awareness, or those looking to program a secular inspirational piece alongside religious or art song selections.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the ballad's introspective nature by resisting the urge to oversell the dynamics early. Let the arrangement build naturally toward moments of assertion.
- Work the ensemble toward unified vowel production during sustained passages; the emotional power depends on blend and clarity of tone.
- If using the recorded accompaniment, spend rehearsal time synchronizing phrasing and breath points with the backing track rather than rushing to performance tempo.
How to use it
Pair this with other contemporary concert pieces to open a second half, or use it as a reflection point in a mixed program exploring themes of connection and change. It also serves as a meaningful finale option for concerts centered on social consciousness or community impact.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained legit tone production in a contemporary harmonic context
- Phrasing and breathing management in a through-composed ballad
- Ensemble blend and balance across changing vocal textures
- Emotional communication and interpretive depth in contemporary repertoire