Grown-Up Christmas List (arr. Kirby Shaw): Choral Instrumental Pak
As performed by Amy Grant / Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00434187
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Description
As children, we had hopes of toys and the magic of Santa. As adults, we can still have hopes and dreams at Christmas. In this poignant and sensitive song, hopes are grand for "No more lives torn apart, wars will never start, right will always win, and love will never end." This is the sort of list we all need to hang on to at Christmas and always.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00434187
More about this title
About the Artist: Amy Grant
Amy Grant emerged in the 1970s as a crossover artist who brought contemporary songwriting sensibility to both Christian and mainstream markets. Her gift for crafting emotionally honest lyrics paired with accessible melodies made her one of the most commercially successful female artists of her era, with multiple Grammy Awards and platinum albums to her name.
Grant's songwriting often centers on themes of hope, faith, and human connection. "Grown-Up Christmas List" exemplifies her approach: a song that speaks to listeners across age groups by acknowledging how our deepest wishes evolve, trading material desires for peace and compassion. This breadth of appeal has made her catalog a natural fit for choral arrangements.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement respects the song's intimate emotional core while building it into a piece that works beautifully with a full ensemble and instruments. The text itself carries the weight of a genuine message, so your singers will connect to what they're performing rather than simply executing the notes. This lands perfectly in winter programs where you want something meaningful that audiences of all ages will recognize and appreciate.
What to expect
The song carries a reflective, almost wistful quality. It builds from quiet contemplation into something more hopeful without becoming saccharine, holding space for both the vulnerability of naming what we truly want and the possibility that goodness can prevail. Singing it feels like being part of a collective wish.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves choral programs of intermediate to advanced ability that want substantial repertoire with immediate appeal to listeners. It works equally well for community choirs, school groups, and church ensembles seeking contemporary material with genuine artistic substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Invest rehearsal time in balancing the choir against the recorded accompaniment. The song's impact depends on clarity of text, so avoid letting instrumental energy overshadow the vocal line.
- Shape the phrasing around the lyrical sentiment rather than strict metric regularity. Moments like "No more lives torn apart" need space to breathe and land emotionally.
- Consider dynamics as a tool for highlighting the message. Pulling back in certain phrases can make the wishes feel more personal and intimate.
- Work the ensemble toward a genuine softness in tone quality. The arrangement likely calls for restraint rather than power, which requires as much discipline as singing louder.
How to use it
Anchor a winter concert with this piece by placing it as a centerpiece rather than a filler track. It can bridge between more traditional holiday fare and contemporary material, offering audiences a moment of genuine introspection during the season. The song also works as a concert finale if you want to send people out thinking about values beyond festive surface decoration.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing ensemble blend against recorded accompaniment
- Sustaining legit vocal tone through soft dynamic passages
- Phrasing for text clarity and emotional intention
- Managing tempo and rubato to serve lyrical content