Shepherd Carols: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Joseph M. Martin
Item: 35-PK00338307
$75.00
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Description
Uses: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Concert
Scripture: Matthew 2:10; Luke 2:8-10; I Peter 1:8
Join with the shepherds and the angelic chorus with this menagerie of classic carols. Three popular tunes and texts showcase this important moment in the Christmas narrative. Sparkling choral writing and a colorful orchestration create a jubilant spirit that will program easily into your concert and service needs.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00338307
More about this title
About the Arranger: Joseph M. Martin
Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. A accomplished solo pianist and competition winner, he has performed with orchestras across the United States and Mexico, including the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra, and his recitals have been broadcast nationally.
Martin's output spans both concert halls and church sanctuaries, from Carnegie Hall to hundreds of worship spaces across North America. His compositions and arrangements reflect a gift for writing music that serves both the concert stage and the liturgical year, balancing sophistication with accessibility. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his family.
Why we love this
Martin's gift for orchestration shines here: he takes three beloved carols and gives them fresh harmonic color without losing their singability. The sparkling textures feel celebratory rather than thick, which means your singers stay in front of the ensemble and your instrumentalists add genuine musical substance instead of just doubling parts.
What to expect
Picture candlelight and starlight combined. The writing radiates warmth and wonder, with harmonic twists that feel fresh while the melodies remain instantly familiar. It's reverent without being solemn, celebratory without losing its spiritual center.
Who it's for
This works for choirs with basic instrumental support (strings, winds, or keyboard) who want a cohesive Christmas program piece that respects both the sacred narrative and the joy of the season. It suits both concert and service contexts without requiring a massive ensemble.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the choral tone against the orchestral colors. The carols should feel lifted by the accompaniment, not buried beneath it.
- Let the instrumentalists establish the jubilant spirit early in rehearsal. When your ensemble feels that energy, the singers will match it naturally.
- Pay attention to the text painting Martin includes. Notice where the orchestration swells around key words and build those moments intentionally.
How to use it
Anchor your Christmas concert's second half with this piece, or place it as the opening of a service of lessons and carols where you want immediate lift and engagement. The three carols create natural variety within a single work, so it reads as substantial programming without eating up multiple rehearsals.
Skills your students will build
- Blending choral tone with instrumental accompaniment
- Sustaining phrasing across harmonic changes in familiar melodies
- Responding to orchestral cues and dynamics
- Singing scriptural text with narrative clarity alongside musical color