Brightest and Best: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Shawn Kirchner
Item: 35-PK00356611
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Description
This lively arrangement for TTBB chorus and piano is based on a sturdy American hymn tune with a text by Reginald Heber. A banjo inspired piano accompaniment provides sparks while the tune is presented first in unison, then in canon, next adorned with
mirrored countermelodies, with the refrains growing in intensity following each verse, culminating in a dramatic, a cappella outburst.
Duration: 2:15.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00356611
More about this title
About the Arranger: Shawn Kirchner
Shawn Kirchner is a composer and arranger whose work spans choral, instrumental, and sacred music. He brings a keen ear for orchestration and textural variety to everything he writes, often layering simple melodies with inventive harmonic and rhythmic accompaniments that feel both modern and grounded in tradition.
Why we love this
Kirchner refuses to let a standard hymn tune sit still. The banjo-inflected piano writing immediately signals that this is no straight devotional setting; instead, he builds dramatic momentum through structural repetition (unison, canon, countermelody, a cappella climax), giving your singers real architectural variety to sink their teeth into while keeping the familiar tune recognizable throughout.
What to expect
Energetic and playful at first, then increasingly intricate as layers build and countermelodies weave through the familiar tune. The piece swells from intimate singalong to a moment of real vocal power, with the a cappella finish delivering a satisfying punch after the driving accompaniment drops away.
Who it's for
TTBB choirs looking for a concert or festival piece that respects the hymn tradition while pushing well beyond it. The arrangement works equally well for holiday programming and year-round repertoire that showcases four-part men's singing with textural sophistication.
How to get the most out of it
- Nail the rhythmic pocket early in rehearsals. The banjo-inspired accompaniment drives the piece forward, so lock the piano part with your bass line before layering in the other voices.
- Shape the refrains to grow dynamically with each repeat. Kirchner notates this escalation, but your singers need to feel the trajectory building so the final a cappella moment lands with genuine surprise.
- Balance the canon section carefully. When the tune circles back on itself, maintain enough clarity in each voice part so the technique enhances rather than obscures the harmonic progression.
- Give the a cappella outburst room to breathe. Pull back the tempo slightly in the measures leading to it, then let loose with confidence. This moment earns its drama through contrast.
How to use it
Pair this on a Christmas concert with both traditional hymn arrangements and newer seasonal works to show the range of what contemporary arrangers do with sacred material. At 2:15, it fits neatly into any choral program and provides a sharp contrast to slower, more reverent pieces on the same bill.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing canon at sight
- Balancing countermelody lines against a primary melodic line
- Dynamic contrast and narrative arc building across formal sections
- Adjusting vowel shapes and blend when the same tune appears in different harmonic contexts
- A cappella precision without instrumental foundation