Revelation: TTBB Choral Octavo
Words by Robert Frost, music by Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0006961
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A lesser known yet deeply poignant Robert Frost poem. Greg's emotional choral setting is full of expressive rubato that invites time to thoughtfully process the meaningful words. Changing time signatures make space for effortless phrasing and sensitive syllabic stress. A consistently warm harmonic palette and several fully realized suspensions leave us with a feeling of resolution. An exquisite selection for SATB or TTBB choirs and their responsive accompanists.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0006961
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin is an ASCAP award-winning choral composer and arranger whose work has been performed across North America and internationally. His conducting has taken him to prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Ryman Auditorium, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, and Harpa Concert Hall. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, Gilpin shapes the landscape of contemporary choral music for student ensembles.
Beyond the concert stage, Gilpin has extended his creative reach into film scoring and professional organizing. His 2021 score for the short film "Rosie's Rescue" earned Best Score recognition. He holds memberships in ACDA, NAfME, and SAG-AFTRA, and is a Life Loyal Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Why we love this
Gilpin's harmonic language here feels earned rather than ornamental. The shifting meters do exactly what they need to do: they free the text from rhythmic constraint without ever sounding awkward or precious. A director with a responsive ensemble will find this piece reveals something new with each rehearsal.
What to expect
Introspective and meditative, with moments of quiet luminosity. The harmonic suspensions create gentle tension that feels resolved by warmth rather than release, leaving listeners with a sense of calm acceptance rather than dramatic closure.
Who it's for
Men's choirs (TTBB, TTB, TBB, or TB) and those preparing mixed voice ensembles that include strong lower voice sections. This work rewards singers with enough musical maturity to respond to subtle harmonic color and interpretive flexibility.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the suspensions breathe fully before resolving them. These moments are where the emotional weight lives, so resist the urge to move through them quickly.
- Honor the rubato markings as flexible guidelines rather than strict instructions. Your ensemble's sensitivity to the text should guide the pacing in real time.
- Balance clarity of vowel sound with the warm harmonic palette. These lower voices need resonance, but the words must still land precisely.
- The recorded accompaniment can serve as a model for how much freedom to take with tempo. Listen to it in rehearsal, then encourage your singers to own the interpretation.
How to use it
This octavo fits naturally into a concert devoted to contemporary American poetry set to music, or as a contrasting moment in a program mixing sacred and secular literature. Its modest length and reflective character make it ideal for closing a set or providing a bridge between more energetic works.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing changing time signatures with natural phrasing
- Sustaining harmonic tension through suspensions
- Responding to expressive rubato while maintaining ensemble cohesion
- Interpreting syllabic stress and text-driven interpretation
- Blending voices in warm, extended harmonic writing