Star High, Baby Low

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Composer
David M. McKay
Difficulty
Easy radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked
Season
Christmas
Voicing(s)
Children's Choir
Instruments
Keyboard [organ/piano] Cello
Category
Anthems Children's Music
Instrumental Only?
No
Description
  • Text Writer: George MacDonald (1824-1905), alt. Carol Mc,Clure
  • Vocal Part(s): Unison
  • Vocal Range: e-c’
  • Key: E minor
  • Meter: 4/4
  • Accompanying Instrument(s): Violoncello and piano (or harp)

Target Age Group: Grades K-2 or Grades 3-6

Description: Star High, Baby Low is an instantly memorable anthem for younger children’s voices. This lovely, lightly syncopated setting by former BMI Composer of the Year David McKay of the George MacDonald text is very appropriate for Christmas Eve.

Anthem Warm-Ups

  • bars 7/10: accurately singing melodic differences
  • random bars: pitch and rhythm accuracy

Teaching Points

  • Rhythm/Meter: Learning to count/sing syncopated phrases
  • Intervallic Tuning: Tuning ascending and descending intervals
  • Interpretation: Shaping short phrases
Audio
Lyrics

Star high, baby low.
Twixt the two, shepherds go.
Find the baby, grasp the star
kneel in wonder, near and far.

Star high baby low
Twixt the two the wise men go.
Find the baby, grasp the star
Heirs of all things near and far.

Star high baby low
Twixt the two we will go.
Find the baby grasp the star
Tell the story near and far.