I Will Sing You the Stars: SSA Choral Octavo
Words and music by Mark Burrows
Item: 00-PO-0005935
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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About the Composer: Mark Burrows

Mark Burrows composes for ensembles across the full spectrum of choral music, from children's choirs through adult groups and intergenerational festival programs. His works appear regularly on state and festival lists, and he receives ongoing commissions that reflect the breadth and trust directors place in his musical voice.
Burrows holds degrees in music education from Southern Methodist University and in conducting from Texas Christian University. He serves as Director of Children's Ministries at FUMC in Fort Worth, Texas, where he lives with his family.
Why we love this
Burrows writes from genuine emotional conviction here; the text frames a father's blessing to his daughter, and the music honors that intimacy without sentimentality. SSA voicing sits naturally in the upper range, giving singers room to find the warmth in the harmonies rather than straining for it.
What to expect
Warm, tender, and genuinely moving without veering into schmaltzy territory. The piece breathes with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from a parent speaking from the heart, and the choral writing amplifies that sincerity through lush but restrained harmonies.
Who it's for
This octavo suits choirs performing at graduation ceremonies, senior banquets, or spring concerts where a moment of sincere reflection strengthens the program. Intermediate and advanced SSA choirs will find the harmonic language accessible yet expressive, with enough musical substance to challenge singers without requiring virtuosity.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape each phrase around the text's emotional arc rather than treating phrases as equal units. The graduation context demands that singers understand what they're singing about.
- Balance the upper voices carefully when they move in parallel thirds or sixths. These doublings can muddily quickly if the singers don't listen across the section.
- Let the recorded accompaniment ground your ensemble's tempo and phrasing, especially in the opening phrases where the text sets the emotional tone.
- Mark dynamic changes as cues for emotional shifts, not arbitrary volume adjustments. This piece rewards singers who connect dynamics to their understanding of the message.
How to use it
Place this as a centerpiece moment in a graduation or celebration concert rather than as filler. Its twelve pages and the emotional weight of the text earn it a featured spot where an audience can settle into its message. Pair it with lighter material before and after to give it breathing room.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained legit singing and phrase control across longer musical lines
- Listening for blend and balance within parallel voice movement
- Connecting dynamic and expressive choices to textual meaning
- Ensemble intonation in sustained harmonic contexts