Rhapsody in Bluegrass: Choral Instrumental Pak
Item: 35-PK00420784
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Description
Set hearts soaring with this joyful Christmas cantata based on American folk songs, spirituals, bluegrass-styled carols and original gospel songs. Traditional choral elements dance easily with the rustic qualities of the "mountain" music and the results are pure joy. Designed to be performed either with piano alone or with the unique bluegrass consort, this work is a celebration of light. Even the narration has a gentle folk quality, adding to the dramatic potential of your presentation. Experience the work that, after its Carnegie Hall debut, left New York critics ebullient with praise! Songs include: Hear the Wondrous Story; The King Shall Come; Star of Promise, Light of Glory; A Morning Star Will Rise; Mary Went a-Riding; O Little Town; Here Comes the Light; A Christmas Answer; A Little Light Was Born.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00420784
More about this title
Why we love this
The orchestration flexibility alone makes this a practical choice for ensembles of different sizes and instrumental capabilities, but what really distinguishes this work is how authentically it blends folk traditions with choral writing. Critics responded to something genuine here: the arrangement doesn't wink at Americana or condescend to it, which means your singers can commit fully to the material without irony.
What to expect
Candlelight and front porches. The music carries warmth without sentimentality, drawing from deep American roots while maintaining genuine choral sophistication. Joy here is earned through authenticity, not manufactured through bombast.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking a complete Christmas cantata that works year-round for holiday concerts, Christmas Eve services, or winter presentations where the ensemble can perform with either piano or (ideally) a bluegrass band. This reaches ensembles comfortable with part singing and ready for a unified, narrative-driven dramatic experience rather than a collection of separate numbers.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the folk narrative quality of the narration sections. Treat them as connective tissue between songs rather than filler, and your singers will understand the emotional arc of the whole work.
- If you're using the bluegrass consort, rehearse the rhythm section separately first so they establish their pocket before blending with voices. The "mountain" style thrives on groove, not precision.
- Balance textural clarity across the nine songs. Some will sit naturally as full ensemble moments; others work better with soloists or smaller sections to let the original melodies breathe.
- Explore the drama in your staging choices. The gentle folk quality extends to visual presentation, so consider what lighting, costume choices, or simple movement might amplify the "celebration of light" theme without overwhelming the music.
How to use it
Build your entire winter concert around this work as the centerpiece. Its flexibility means you could open with a shorter Christmas choral piece, perform the cantata as the main event, and close with congregational singing or instrumental carols. Alternatively, it serves beautifully as a cornerstone for a service of lessons and carols where the nine songs anchor the liturgical flow.
Skills your students will build
- Blending folk idioms with traditional harmonic progressions
- Interpreting narration in a choral context
- Flexibility between piano and instrumental ensemble accompaniment
- Sustaining narrative arc across a multi-movement work
- Singing in folk and gospel vocal styles
- Part independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion