Star of Promise, Light of Glory (arr. Brad Nix): Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Brad Nix
Item: 35-PK00481815
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Description
This rustic approach to the early-American tunes WARRENTON and NETTLETON will raise the joy level in your sanctuary! The original text has a sprinkling of Wesleyan lyric thrown in for good measure and comes wrapped up in a surprising choral/bluegrass jubilee. A contrasting middle section delivers a lyrical pause in the dance, but the joy soon returns as the anthem races to a decisive ending. Score and Parts (fdl, bjo, mndln, ac gtr, up b, dm) available as a digital download.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00481815
More about this title
About the Arranger: Brad Nix
Brad Nix is an accomplished arranger with a gift for reimagining traditional hymn tunes through contemporary instrumental lenses. His work regularly appears in choral and instrumental publications, where he demonstrates particular skill in blending folk idioms with congregational music.
Why we love this
Brad Nix has crafted something genuinely difficult to find: a Christmas arrangement that feels both reverent and rollicking without sacrificing either quality. The bluegrass textures and fiddle writing give your singers a rhythmic playground, while the lyrical middle section proves he understands how to balance jubilation with reflection. Your congregation will remember this one.
What to expect
A front-porch gathering where reverence and delight coexist. The early-American hymn tunes sit comfortably in their rustic instrumentation, but the arrangement's rhythmic vitality and surprising harmonic turns keep things from ever feeling quaint or overly nostalgic.
Who it's for
Choirs with access to bluegrass or folk ensemble players, or worship settings where instrumental participation expands beyond traditional church instrumentalists. This works equally well in secular concert settings drawn to Americana repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the groove early by locking the rhythm section (acoustic guitar, upright bass, drums) before the choir enters; the fiddle and banjo lines depend on that pocket.
- Shape the middle section's lyricism by pulling back on tempo slightly and encouraging singers to breathe through longer phrases rather than subdividing.
- Balance the fiddle and banjo textures so neither overwhelms the choral line; these instruments are partners in storytelling, not soloists.
- Take full advantage of the final acceleration into the decisive ending; build energy in the last phrase rather than settling.
How to use it
Position this as a jubilant closer to an Advent or Christmas service, where its energy provides a counterweight to quieter, more introspective seasonal pieces. It also functions brilliantly as a concert finale when programming spans multiple American musical traditions.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with rhythmic precision in bluegrass/folk idioms
- Balancing choral sound against contrasting instrumental timbres
- Navigating syncopated accompaniment patterns
- Responding to dynamic shape across sections with differing harmonic density