Bright Star Shining!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0007932
$1.65
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Here is an irresistible gospel style Christmas number from Greg Gilpin that your students will want to sing again and again. And with infectious syncopated rhythms, resonant gospel chords, and spirited handclaps added on the final a cappella refrain, it's sure to be a hit with your audience as well. Feature a low voice soloist on the catchy first verse, and high voice descant singers at the big finish. Effective with the piano or with the optional highly energized SoundTrax CD.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007932
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin brings decades of experience as both a composer and conductor to his choral works. He has led performances at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Ryman Auditorium, the Sydney Opera House, and Royal Festival Hall. His compositions have earned ASCAP recognition, and he serves as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, where he shapes the landscape of contemporary choral repertoire.
Beyond the concert hall, Gilpin has expanded his creative reach into film scoring and television, earning Best Score recognition for the short film "Rosie's Rescue." He collaborates regularly with leading singers and ensembles, including a world premiere arrangement of "What Child is This?" with opera singer Angela Brown and the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. Active in professional organizations including ACDA and NAfME, Gilpin remains committed to fostering musical growth across educational and professional settings.
Why we love this
Gilpin writes this piece with the gospel idiom firmly in his bones, delivering something that feels authentically rooted rather than stylistically borrowed. The built-in flexibility of voicing options (a low voice solo, high voice descant) lets you showcase individual singers while keeping the ensemble engaged, and the final a cappella refrain with handclaps transforms the ending into a moment your audience won't forget.
What to expect
Infectious and joyful, with a rhythmic energy that pulls singers forward. The gospel harmonies create warmth and resonance; add the recorded accompaniment or piano support, and the piece swells with a spirited momentum that feels celebratory without being saccharine.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advanced middle and high school choirs who want to expand beyond traditional holiday fare. Directors seeking a celebration number with genuine gospel flavor will find the syncopated rhythms and harmonic vocabulary engage both singers and audiences.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the syncopated rhythms early in rehearsal; once your singers feel the groove, the piece practically teaches itself
- Bring out the gospel harmony colors by tuning the altered chords with care—these resonate differently than diatonic writing
- Let the soloist on the first verse set the emotional tone; this is your chance to highlight a student voice that thrives in the spotlight
- When you add the handclaps for the final refrain, have the entire ensemble participate first, then gradually layer in your descant singers over the top
How to use it
Position this as your winter concert closer or as the anchor piece in a holiday medley that blends multiple musical traditions. The optional recorded accompaniment works beautifully if you want to showcase your choir without competing against a live piano part.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythm reading and execution in a gospel idiom
- Intonation of altered and extended gospel harmonies
- Solo singing confidence and microphone technique
- Layered ensemble voicing with descant parts
- Stylistically informed phrasing and dynamic shaping