Star of the East

On December 7th, Star of the East premiered as the first prize original score. Acappellago is an a cappella choir in the Chicago area. In 2019, they hosted a composition competition for college students in the suburbs. They called for new and original scores composed around the theme of a star for their upcoming winter concert. Star of the East is a beautifully lyrical piece depicting images of the night sky and the bright Star of Bethlehem. The text is adapted from the poem of the same name by Eugene Fields (1850-1895), most well known for his children’s poems such as “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.”

Program Notes

Written for Acappellago, an a capella group in the Chicago area, this piece won first prize in their first ever composition competition. The text centers on a star, specifically Christ. Both the text and the music have a hopeful and comforting tone. Its calm nature and beautifully lyrical partwriting reflect the stars in the night sky and the innocence of the Star of Bethlehem.

Instrumentation

SATB Choir
Piano (for rehearsal only)

“His piece has lush harmonies and beautiful melodic writing for all four parts. It was a pleasure to perform.”

- Choir Director Victoria Linich