Embrace the Music: SATB Choral Octavo
Music by Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0007746
$1.65
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This will be a moving finale on any or every concert program. The accessible vocal parts, gentle gospel feel, and music-themed text are highly effective and accomplishable for all choirs. Features a simple solo backed by the chorus in the middle and a full-sounding ending after the powerful bridge. "Embrace the music, hold it in your heart. Sing the song that life has given you." Excellent SoundTrax CD.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007746
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin brings dual expertise as both a conductor and composer, with performances spanning some of the world's most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House, and Royal Festival Hall. His work as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press has shaped choral repertoire for thousands of singers, while his ASCAP-recognized compositions and arrangements have become staples in concert programs across the United States and internationally.
Beyond the music world, Gilpin's creative energy extends to multiple disciplines. He scored the award-winning short film "Rosie's Rescue" and collaborated with opera singer Angela Brown on a world premiere arrangement of "What Child is This?" performed by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. A member of ACDA, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Gilpin continues to balance his roles as educator, composer, and conductor with active involvement in his professional organizing business.
Why we love this
Gilpin crafts finales that land. The gentle gospel idiom avoids preachiness while the music-centered text creates natural emotional resonance for any audience. What makes this genuinely useful is how fully it sounds despite its accessibility, the bridge packs real power, and the solo passage gives singers a moment of individual ownership before the final tutti lands.
What to expect
Warmth and affirmation suffuse this piece. The gentle gospel language and music-centered text create an intimate moment that builds gradually toward a powerful, full-bodied conclusion, leaving listeners moved and the singers energized.
Who it's for
Any SATB choir seeking a program closer that connects with audiences on an emotional level without excessive technical demands. This works equally well for high school, community, collegiate, and professional choirs, particularly those comfortable with gospel idioms and contemporary styling.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the solo section with clear dynamics and intentional phrasing to let the lyrical melody shine before the chorus re-enters.
- Build energy steadily through the bridge so the transition to the full-sounding ending feels earned rather than abrupt.
- Balance the gospel feel by allowing the rhythm section (if using the accompaniment) to sit slightly ahead of the beat while keeping the choir centered and grounded.
- Use the recorded SoundTrax accompaniment in rehearsals to establish the harmonic context and groove before singers lock in independent voice parts.
How to use it
Position this as your finale to frame the evening around the joy of singing itself. The accessible vocal writing and thematic content make it equally effective closing a spring concert or serving as a powerful statement piece on a more eclectic program focused on contemporary choral art.
Skills your students will build
- Gospel-inflected rhythmic interpretation and swing feel
- Dynamic control across a full range from intimate solo passages to powerful ensemble sections
- Balancing independence within SATB voicing while maintaining transparent harmonic color
- Expressive text painting and emotional communication in contemporary choral style