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About the Composer

David von Kampen

David von Kampen (b. 1986) is a composer from Lincoln, Nebraska. David’s creative work spans a wide variety of genres and styles, including jazz, choral music, hymnody and liturgy, solo voice, chamber music, and musical theater. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from...

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David von Kampen

The Shepherds’ Hymn

Name: The Shepherds’ Hymn
SKU: DVK-011
Availability: InStock

David von Kampen

A quietly sweeping, impressionistic Christmas setting for SATB and piano.

Choral

mixed choir

piano

Difficulty: 3, 4

Duration: 3-5 min.

DVK-011

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SATB and piano

This lush, quiet piece will be a lovely change of pace in any holiday choral concert. The vocal parts are not particularly difficult, but the writing has occasional divisi up to 6 parts. Sustained gestures leave room for the choir and conductor to interpret expressively.

Composer’s Notes

This piece was written for the University of Nebraska Singers in 2017, conducted by
Peter Eklund. Choirs should pay careful attention to tuning and balance, especially with
the close harmonies of measure 15, 30, and other similar moments.

– David von Kampen

Text

We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest,
Young dawn of our eternal day;
We saw Thine eyes break from the East,
And chase the trembling shades away:
We saw Thee, and we blest the sight,
We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light.

– Text by Richard Crashaw (c. 1613-1649)

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