Nothin' But Glory: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Heather Sorenson
Item: 35-PK00416143
$50.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This glorious anthem is the "feel good" piece of the season! Exuberant and filled with the Spirit, your choir will shout the comfort and joy as it interacts with the soloist and connects with the urban gospel styling of this arrangement. The traditional Christmas "Gloria" is reimagined with articulate syncopations and powerful chords of praise, complete with moments for clapping and the addition of a worship band. Careful attention has been paid to avoid the uncomfortable vocal tessituras often associated with this style.
Nothin' But Glory: Choral Instrumental Pak 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 Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00416143
More about this title
About the Arranger: Heather Sorenson
Heather Sorenson is a Dallas-based composer and arranger whose music appears regularly in churches, schools, universities, and concert halls worldwide. Her reputation grew from her prowess at the keyboard, but she has become equally celebrated for her sophisticated choral and orchestral writing. She moves fluidly between traditional and contemporary Christian music, blending both idioms into an approach that has become distinctly her own.
Sorenson's recent work includes major commissions for Texas A&M University, the Kennedy Foundation, and a Carnegie Hall premiere of her oratorio EXODUS. She has taught music at multiple institutions, served as a guest conductor and speaker at churches across the country, and leads workshops at conferences and universities annually. Based in the Dallas area, she balances an active composing schedule with frequent guest artist appearances and benefit concerts for nonprofit organizations.
Why we love this
Sorenson treats the familiar "Gloria" text with genuine respect while injecting unmistakable energy and contemporary warmth into the arrangement. The syncopated articulations and harmonic language feel fresh without alienating singers who expect this carol to sound reverent, and the careful voicing means your singers can deliver full power without straining through uncomfortable ranges. This is the rare Christmas piece that leaves your ensemble grinning and your audience energized.
What to expect
The piece pulses with genuine joy and a spirit of celebration that lives somewhere between a church praise band and a full choral statement. Urban gospel inflections give it an unmistakable modern character, yet the careful handling of vocal ranges keeps the experience musically sustainable for singers of varying levels.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves choirs looking for a Christmas piece with contemporary gospel sensibility that doesn't overshadow the text's spiritual foundation. Directors who want to bridge traditional worship with accessible contemporary styling will find it especially useful.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the syncopations with precision and rhythmic clarity; they're the signature of this arrangement and worth rehearsing as a dedicated element before combining with the melody line.
- Let the clapping moments emerge organically from the choir rather than feeling manufactured; they anchor the gospel feel and give singers physical ownership of the groove.
- Balance the soloist's moments against the full choir carefully during rehearsal so the interplay feels conversational rather than competitive.
How to use it
Position this in your Christmas service or concert as a strong closer that leaves audiences with energy rather than reflection. It pairs naturally with more contemplative sacred pieces earlier in the program, creating dynamic arc and keeping the listener engaged through program's end.
Skills your students will build
- Gospel syncopation and rhythmic articulation in ensemble context
- Balancing soloist and ensemble textures
- Sustaining full vocal power without tension in extended ranges
- Interpreting contemporary rhythmic feels with precision
- Physical expression through incorporated clapping and movement