As Lately We Watched: TTBB Choral Octavo
As Lately We Watched Sheet Music Preview

As Lately We Watched: TTBB Choral Octavo

Arranged by Kirby Shaw

Item: 35-DS00435327
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS00435327

More about this title

About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw's influence spans five continents, from his foundation work at College of the Siskiyous to his current leadership directing the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University. His formal training in choral composition and conducting combines with hands-on mentorship from jazz masters like Bobby McFerrin and Al Jarreau, creating an approach to music education that blends rigor with infectious enthusiasm.

With nearly 20 million copies of his work in circulation worldwide and over 2500 arrangements to his name, Shaw has shaped how choirs approach contemporary voicing and harmonic sophistication. His prolific output has earned multiple ASCAP awards, while his collaborative spirit extends beyond the page; he performs with Just 4 Kicks, a professional jazz a cappella quartet, bringing real-world ensemble experience directly into his compositional voice.

Why we love this

Shaw's gift for blending accessibility with harmonic richness makes this arrangement work equally well for festival preparation or a holiday concert centerpiece. The flexible voicing options mean you can perform it with whatever combination of singers you have available on any given rehearsal day, without sacrificing the warmth and sophistication that define Shaw's choral writing.

What to expect

Quiet reverence with a gentle undercurrent of anticipation. The a cappella texture invites intimate attention to the carol's melodic beauty while Shaw's harmonic choices add warmth and contemporary resonance to a familiar tune.

Who it's for

Men's choirs and mixed groups looking for a Christmas arrangement that sits comfortably in the vocal range while still offering harmonic substance. This works for competitive festival choirs, community ensembles, and educational programs where flexibility in voicing options is essential.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the ensemble by bringing out the melodic line wherever it sits in the voicing; this arrangement distributes the tune across the parts rather than anchoring it to one section, so singers need to hear when they're carrying the story.
  • Shape the phrases with consistent breath placement across all four parts, especially in longer sustained sections, to maintain line integrity and prevent the a cappella texture from sounding choppy.
  • Approach the harmonic movement deliberately and with clear vowel production; without instrumental support, every chord transition depends on singers' intonation and blend.

How to use it

Position this in a holiday concert's second half as a bridge piece that allows your ensemble to demonstrate both control and artistry without requiring instrumental accompaniment. It pairs naturally alongside other a cappella selections or provides contrast following an accompanied carol.

Skills your students will build

  • Maintaining intonation in a cappella contexts
  • Reading flexible voicing arrangements (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB options)
  • Balancing independent melodic lines within four-part harmony
  • Shaping sustained phrases with consistent breath and vowel production

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