Hosanna Deo!: SSAB Choral Octavo
By Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0000942
$1.80
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A festival choral for contemporary choirs. Most often in 5/4 with a stacatto piano theme as its driving force, this dynamic piece features a legato "in excelsis" section in 4, and culminates with jubilant "alleluias" in 6/8. Well worth the effort! Featured on PianoTrax 3 Accompaniment CD (00-34744).
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000942
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin is an ASCAP award-winning composer and arranger whose choral works are performed by ensembles across the country. He has conducted at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Sydney Opera House, and serves as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press. His compositional voice balances contemporary energy with accessibility, making his pieces engaging for both singers and audiences.
Beyond his work in choral music, Gilpin has expanded into film composition and won Best Score for the short film "Rosie's Rescue" in 2021. He holds memberships in ACDA, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and continues to teach, compose, and conduct while remaining active in the music education community.
Why we love this
The rhythmic restlessness of 5/4 paired with a staccato piano riff gives this piece an immediately contemporary feel, yet the harmonic writing stays accessible for mixed choirs. The shift into legato 4/4 for the "in excelsis" section provides genuine musical contrast, and the final 6/8 alleluias deliver the kind of jubilant payoff that audiences remember. It's festival-ready without feeling like a show-off piece.
What to expect
Propulsive and modern in its staccato opening, with a syncopated energy that feels both celebratory and slightly edgy. The work shifts into reverent beauty when the full choir settles into legato harmony, then breaks into unrestrained jubilation as the piece peaks on alleluias. It's dynamic without being chaotic, contemporary without losing its sacred character.
Who it's for
Contemporary choirs ready to tackle mixed meters and rhythmic precision. This works for advanced high school choirs, college and university groups, and community choirs with solid reading skills and a taste for modern sacred writing.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the staccato piano accompaniment crisp and rhythmically precise; it's the structural backbone that makes the 5/4 meter feel intentional rather than disorienting.
- Shape the "in excelsis" section with real legato singing and reduced tempo to create maximum contrast with the opening energy.
- Nail the meter changes by giving singers visual cues; the 6/8 alleluias need forward motion and release after the sustained middle section.
- Balance the texture so the soprano and alto lines cut through during the main theme while the men support the rhythmic drive.
How to use it
This piece works beautifully as a concert closer or as the anchor to a festival program featuring other contemporary sacred works. Its dramatic arc and rhythmic distinctiveness make it memorable in the middle of a longer set, and the accessible choral writing means it can anchor a program that mixes difficulty levels while maintaining engagement.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in mixed meters (5/4, 4/4, and 6/8)
- Precision articulation and rhythmic independence in staccato passages
- Dynamic contrast between rhythmic and legato material
- Part independence in a three-part mixed voicing
- Sustaining pitch and legato line in the "in excelsis" section