Life Has Loveliness Cover Image

Life Has Loveliness: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.05 USD
$2.05 USD
Skip to product information
Life Has Loveliness Cover Image
Life Has Loveliness: SATB Choral Octavo

Life Has Loveliness: SATB Choral Octavo

Words by Sara Teasdale, music by Greg Gilpin

Item: 00-50187

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$2.05
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Life Has Loveliness: PianoTrax Digital Audio Download

$9.99
View

Life Has Loveliness: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.05
View

Life Has Loveliness: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

$2.05
View
Description
Acknowledge life's many gifts with this splendid setting of Sara Teasdale's poem that reminds us to "spend all you have for loveliness." A lilting rhythmic flow and some refreshing mixed meter moments create a buoyant effect. Greg's tuneful lines and sensible part writing are satisfying to sing and pave the way to success. Absolutely delightful!

Life Has Loveliness: SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081573571
SKU: 00-50187

More about this title

About the Composer: Greg Gilpin

Greg Gilpin

Greg Gilpin stands among America's most performed choral composers, having conducted major ensembles at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Sydney Opera House. His work as Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press has shaped choral literature for thousands of singers across the country. An ASCAP award winner and active member of ACDA, Gilpin combines decades of conducting and composing experience with an instinctive understanding of what makes music both singable and memorable.

Beyond the concert hall, Gilpin has expanded his creative reach into film scoring and has built a secondary career as a certified professional organizer and financial coach. His arrangement of "What Child is This?" with opera singer Angela Brown premiered to international acclaim, while his film score for "Rosie's Rescue" earned Best Score recognition. Gilpin's multifaceted approach to music and life infuses his compositions with joy and purpose.

Why we love this

Gilpin's gift for crafting singable, purposeful music shines throughout this setting. The mixed meter pockets add just enough harmonic intrigue to keep singers engaged without overwhelming the text, and the buoyant rhythmic energy makes it immediately appealing to singers and audiences alike. It's the kind of piece that sounds fresh every time you sing it.

What to expect

The music bubbles with optimism, its lilting pulse inviting singers and listeners into a celebration of life's simple graces. Yet beneath the brightness lives a contemplative quality rooted in Teasdale's reminder to spend ourselves for beauty. The result feels simultaneously light-hearted and profound.

Who it's for

This piece speaks to advanced high school choirs, college ensembles, and community choirs seeking material that combines accessibility with sophistication. The tuneful writing and straightforward part relationships make it achievable for groups new to mixed meter, while Gilpin's harmonic language rewards singers who can track subtle voice-leading.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the longer phrases with gentle dynamic pushes at their midpoints rather than singing straight through; this maintains the lilting character while keeping energy alive.
  • Prepare singers for the mixed meter moments by drilling those sections separately at a slow tempo first, then gradually introducing the surrounding musical context.
  • Let the recorded accompaniment guide your initial rehearsals, then gradually reduce reliance on it to build stronger sectional independence and blend.
  • Honor Teasdale's reflective poem by finding moments of repose within the buoyant surface; contrast between the uplifting rhythm and the poem's deeper gratitude creates interpretive richness.

How to use it

Position this as a centerpiece for a graduation program, where its message of gratitude and abundance resonates with the occasion. It pairs beautifully with more introspective pieces in a concert exploring themes of reflection and gratitude. The 12-page format makes it practical for festivals and competitions where time and logistics matter.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and performing mixed meter passages (transitions between duple and triple divisions)
  • Maintaining buoyant rhythmic energy while executing accurate ensemble coordination
  • Blending sustained harmonic structures with active inner voices
  • Connecting poetic meaning to musical gesture and phrasing choices

You May Also Like