Many scripture passages foretell the coming of the Messiah, with perhaps the most well-known being the angel comforting the frightened shepherds on the hillside saying, "And this shall be a sign unto you..." This musical depiction recalls seven of those signs in a unique re-telling of the Christmas story, beginning with the prophecies of Isaiah through the blessing from Simeon in Luke, each providing a signpost for the arrival of the Christ Child. With familiar carols interspersed among the very melodic and stylistically diverse music of Larry Shackley, "And This Shall Be a Sign" will have a strong appeal for the congregations of both the traditional and blended worship service. And with both SATB and SAB editions being available (along with reproducible part-dominant CDs for each voicing), churches of virtually any size will be able to successfully present this work in a meaningful and uplifting way.
