Hosanna Deo!: SSAA Choral Octavo
By Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0000943
$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-0000943
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin ranks among America's most performed choral composers, with an ASCAP award-winning catalogue and a conducting career that has taken him to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Ryman Auditorium, Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, and Harpa Concert Hall. He serves as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press and maintains an active schedule as a composer, arranger, and conductor.
Beyond the music world, Gilpin has expanded his creative reach into film scoring (earning Best Score recognition for the short film "Rosie's Rescue" in 2021) and professional organizing, leveraging his organizational expertise through media appearances and consulting work. He holds membership in ACDA, NAfME, SAG-AFTRA, and is a Life Loyal Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Why we love this
Gilpin crafts a piece that demands genuine musicianship while remaining accessible to contemporary choirs. The constant metric shifts (5/4, 4/4, 6/8) feel organic rather than contrived, and the interplay between the staccato piano theme and the flowing "in excelsis" section creates a satisfying architectural arc that builds naturally to the jubilant final section.
What to expect
The piece opens with kinetic energy driven by the insistent piano staccato, then shifts into a shimmering, introspective moment with the legato "in excelsis" writing before exploding into joyful affirmation through the closing alleluias. It feels like a journey from contemplation to celebration.
Who it's for
Choirs ready to tackle contemporary sacred repertoire that combines technical challenge with musical reward. Your singers should be comfortable sight-reading mixed meters and responding to rhythmic precision, making this ideal for festival-level ensembles or strong concert choirs.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the staccato piano accompaniment first as the rhythmic foundation. Once your singers feel anchored to that driving pulse in 5/4, the vocal entrances and phrasing fall into place more naturally.
- Shape the legato "in excelsis" section with particular attention to breath placement and phrase length, allowing it to feel like a genuine moment of repose before the energy returns.
- Let the final "alleluias" in 6/8 be genuinely jubilant. The metric contrast from what came before makes this section feel earned and celebratory rather than simply loud.
How to use it
Program this as a closing piece for a sacred or festival concert, or pair it with other contemporary choral works to showcase your ensemble's rhythmic sophistication and dynamic range. Its combination of technical writing and jubilant conclusion makes it especially effective as a concert finale.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in 5/4, 4/4, and 6/8 within a single piece
- Maintaining rhythmic precision while singing legato phrases against a staccato accompaniment
- Executing clean staccato articulation in four-part SSAA voicing
- Dramatic dynamic control from introspective to exuberant within one continuous movement
- Ensemble cohesion across multiple metric modulations