Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning (arr. Kirby Shaw): SATB Choral Octavo
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning (arr. Kirby Shaw) Sheet Music Preview

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning (arr. Kirby Shaw): SATB Choral Octavo

Arranged by Kirby Shaw

Item: 35-DS00492316
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$2.99
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS00492316

More about this title

About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw's influence on choral music education spans five decades and six continents. A doctor of choral conducting from the University of Washington and a composer/arranger with more than 2500 published works, Shaw has built his career on infectious energy and deep musical knowledge. He founded and directed acclaimed vocal jazz ensembles at multiple universities, mentored under legends like Bobby McFerrin and Al Jarreau, and has seen his arrangements performed in classrooms and concert halls worldwide, with nearly 20 million copies in circulation.

Shaw's prolific output has earned him numerous ASCAP awards and commissions from prestigious organizations including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Beyond composition and arranging, he has shaped music education through direct teaching, clinics across North America and Europe, and the creation of hundreds of educational recordings. His collaborative spirit extends to his work with his wife Markita on musical theater projects, including an original adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Why we love this

Shaw's gift for accessibility makes this blues and folk standard feel immediately singable, yet his harmonic language keeps it interesting for skilled musicians. The arrangement honors the spiritual roots of the material while letting contemporary choirs claim it as their own, and it sits comfortably on the voice without requiring soloists to stretch beyond reasonable limits.

What to expect

The arrangement wraps a timeless spiritual in blues language, creating something that feels both grounded and contemporary. There's warmth in the voicing and swing in the rhythm; singers feel the weight of the text while enjoying the interpretive freedom that blues naturally allows.

Who it's for

Choirs seeking material that bridges sacred and secular traditions while building comfort with blues harmony and stylistic flexibility. It works for high school and college ensembles, community groups, and competitive choirs looking to add genre variety to their concert programming.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the rhythm section anchor the blues feel. If you're using accompaniment, have rhythm players lock into a steady groove rather than rushing the jazz interpretations.
  • Bring out the text. The imagery of lamps and readiness carries weight; singers who connect to the message will naturally shape the phrasing better than those reciting notes.
  • Balance the parts so harmonies sing through without drowning the melody. Blues voicings can easily muddy when parts compete for space.

How to use it

Place this on a concert exploring American roots music, or use it as a stand-alone piece that lightens a program while maintaining substance. Its seven pages make it manageable for groups working on multiple selections, and the folk-blues crossover appeals to audiences across age and musical background.

Skills your students will build

  • Blues harmony and seventh chord sonorities
  • Swing and swing-adjacent rhythmic feels
  • Text expression and emotional storytelling in secular settings
  • Part independence in thicker harmonic textures
  • Stylistic awareness across folk, country, and blues genres

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