The Silver Swan: SATB Choral Octavo
Words by Orlando Gibbons, music by Greg Gilpin
Item: 00-PO-0007718
$1.75
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This will be the most poignant and powerful selection on your concert and contest programs this year. A reflective text set to beautiful music. Contemporary choral writing at its best. Accompaniment included on PianoTrax 2 CD (00-31290).
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007718
More about this title
About the Composer: Greg Gilpin
Greg Gilpin holds national recognition as both a composer and conductor, with performances spanning Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Ryman Auditorium. His work has taken him to premier venues worldwide, including the Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall in London, and Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, he shapes the choral landscape through his published compositions and arrangements.
Beyond the concert stage, Gilpin has expanded his creative reach into film scoring and collaborative ventures with accomplished singers, while also establishing himself in professional organizing and consulting. A dedicated member of ACDA and NAfME, he continues to compose, conduct, and teach while remaining active in multiple professional communities.
Why we love this
Gilpin demonstrates masterful control of contemporary choral sonority here, writing something that feels both accessible to singers and genuinely moving to an audience. The piece stakes its power on textual clarity and emotional restraint rather than technical flash, making it an excellent choice when you need a selection that lands with authenticity at festivals and on concert programs.
What to expect
Introspective and luminous, this piece unfolds with quiet dignity. The harmonic language is rich and modern, yet the overall effect is contemplative rather than complex; it creates space for text and feeling rather than showcasing instrumental-style embellishment.
Who it's for
SATB choirs seeking a serious, concert-quality selection that works equally well in festival and contest settings. Directors looking for contemporary writing that reaches audiences emotionally without requiring virtuosic technical demands from singers.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the text with the harmonic context. Gilpin's writing supports clarity without requiring aggressive diction; let the music do its own work rather than pushing harder than the accompaniment suggests.
- Shape the long lines by thinking in phrases rather than measures. This piece breathes best when singers understand the arc of each musical thought and commit to the shape Gilpin has written.
- Reference the accompaniment recordings on PianoTrax 2 during early rehearsals to establish tempo and harmonic context, then gradually move toward independence in sections.
- Pay attention to dynamics as structural markers. Gilpin uses them deliberately to guide the emotional architecture, not merely for contrast.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece selection on a mixed-repertoire concert or as your reflective moment in a festival set. Its textual weight and emotional honesty make it particularly effective as a closing number or as a powerful contrast following lighter or more energetic works.
Skills your students will build
- Singing contemporary harmonic language with security and understanding
- Balancing blend and clarity in complex chord structures
- Sustaining long phrases with consistent tone and pitch
- Connecting text to emotional intention in a modern choral context