Tanabata: 2-Part Choral Octavo
(Star Festival)
Japanese Folk Song / arr. Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0007192
$2.20
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
This Japanese folk song is sung during the annual Star Festival, when trees are decorated with wishes written on colorful strips of paper. Greg's partner song arrangement pairs the traditional pentatonic melody with a new countermelody and some English words by Takashi Nakamura. A pronunciation guide and translation are included in the publication. A gently flowing selection just right for beginners.
Tanabata: 2-Part Choral Octavo 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
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0007192
More about this title
About the Arranger: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin is an ASCAP award-winning composer and arranger whose work appears on stages across the United States, from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Ryman Auditorium. His choral music has also traveled internationally, with performances at the Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall in London, and Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, Gilpin shapes the repertoire that choral programs build around.
Beyond the concert hall, Gilpin has scored the award-winning short film "Rosie's Rescue" and collaborated with acclaimed opera singer Angela Brown on a contemporary arrangement of "What Child is This?" premiered with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. He holds membership in ACDA, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and remains active as a conductor, composer, and educator.
Why we love this
Gilpin's partner song arrangement honors the pentatonic roots of this beloved Japanese folk melody while making it accessible for developing choirs. The addition of a complementary countermelody and English text (courtesy of translator Takashi Nakamura) creates something fresh without losing the cultural authenticity that makes Tanabata special. Recorded accompaniment is available, giving directors flexibility whether they want to accompany live or use the recording for rehearsal support.
What to expect
Tanabata carries the calm elegance of a wish floating upward into a summer sky. The pentatonic melody has an open, contemplative quality, while the countermelody adds gentle texture without complexity. Together they create something tender and reflective, perfect for a moment of stillness in any concert.
Who it's for
This piece fits singers who are building confidence with two-part writing and straightforward melodic material. It works equally well for middle school choirs, high school treble sections, or beginning adult choirs seeking repertoire that combines accessibility with cultural substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the two melodic lines so neither dominates; the pentatonic melody and its countermelody should weave together as equal partners.
- Use the pronunciation guide included in the score to ensure clear, confident singing of the Japanese text alongside the English words.
- Allow the gentle phrasing to breathe; resist rushing even though the piece is short. Let the flowing quality reflect the quiet beauty of the Star Festival tradition.
- If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse with it early so singers become comfortable with the tempo and harmonic support.
How to use it
Program this as an effective cultural bridge in a concert focused on world music or diverse traditions. Its brief length makes it an ideal encore or a thoughtful intermission piece. The Star Festival theme also pairs well with spring or summer performances and works beautifully as part of a global music unit in a school curriculum.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and sustaining pentatonic melody
- Balancing two independent melodic lines in part singing
- Singing English text alongside Japanese pronunciation with clarity
- Maintaining gentle, sustained phrasing without breath interruption
- Interpreting cultural context and translating it into expressive performance