A Place Like Home (A Holiday Wish): 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0000576
$1.75
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
During the holidays, each of us yearns to have family and friends by our side. For those who can't be with us, we sing this special heartfelt song to encourage them to "find a place that feels like home." Dedicated to a special choir at Camp Lejeune, NC.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0000576
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped choral music education for over thirty years, first as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at major educational publishers including Alfred Music, and continuously as a sought-after conductor and clinician. Her catalog spans more than 600 published choral works alongside 75 songbooks and musicals, and she has received the ASCAP Special Music Award annually since 1987. She has led honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and has taught at Oakland University in Michigan, Jersey City State College in New Jersey, and Meredith College in North Carolina.
Albrecht holds a B.A. in Music and Theater from Rollins College (Florida) and earned both an M.A. in Drama and an M.M. in Accompanying from the University of Miami. Recognized for her leadership beyond music, she served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and received their "Pillar of Leadership" award. In 2021, she was honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she continues to serve on the Board of Trustees. She lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband and frequent collaborator, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht and Althouse have crafted a song that honors the emotional reality of the holidays for singers and audiences alike. The piece balances accessibility with genuine emotional depth, making it singable for developing choirs while retaining the warmth and sincerity that resonates with listeners far from home. Its dedication to the choir at Camp Lejeune adds meaningful context to an already purposeful piece.
What to expect
The song carries a gentle, reflective quality that acknowledges the bittersweet nature of holiday seasons for those separated from loved ones. Its warmth is understated rather than sentimental, creating space for singers and listeners to bring their own memories and longing into the moment.
Who it's for
This piece is ideal for middle school, high school, and community choirs seeking accessible yet emotionally substantive holiday repertoire that speaks to a broader audience than traditional Christmas standards. It works equally well for treble-voiced choirs, lower-voiced choirs, or mixed ensembles performing 2-part arrangements.
How to get the most out of it
- Encourage singers to connect the text to their own experiences of longing and belonging, rather than treating the sentiment as abstract. The emotional authenticity will deepen the performance.
- Balance the two-part texture by ensuring both lines are equally supported; this is not a melody-and-accompaniment piece, but rather voices in conversation.
- Use the recorded accompaniment as a learning tool during rehearsal to help singers internalize their parts, then remove it for performance to build unison and blend.
- Shape the phrase contours gently rather than dramatically. The song's power lies in its restraint and intimacy.
How to use it
Program this piece in the second half of a holiday concert as a contemplative moment that shifts the emotional tone from celebration to reflection, or use it as an opening number to set an intimate mood for the evening. Its 8-page length makes it manageable for ensembles with limited rehearsal time while offering enough substance to anchor a winter program.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in two-part harmony with independent melodic lines
- Balancing blend and balance between simultaneous voice parts
- Interpreting text-driven expression in secular choral music
- Managing phrase length and breath control in a lyrical piece