A Pocketful of Rhymes: 2-Part Choral Octavo
1. Little Miss Muffet (and Mozart) 2. Jack and Jill (and Haydn) 3. Wee Willie Winkie (and Handel)
Adapted and arr. Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0001330
$2.95
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Recipe: Take three favorite nursery rhymes. Mix together with three well-known classical melodies. Add a dash of drama and a pinch of counterpoint. The result: four minutes of great fun for all! Optional orchestration (arr. Hagy) available for rent. Go to presser.com/request-rental. Featured on "Lift Me Up!" choral movement DVD (00-38171).
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0001330
More about this title
About the Arranger: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht brings three decades of choral publishing expertise and conductor experience to her work as a composer and arranger. As Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music, she shaped educational choral literature while maintaining an active presence at major festivals including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center. Her prolific catalog exceeds 600 choral publications alongside 75 songbooks and musicals, earning her annual ASCAP Special Music Awards since 1987.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979). She has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. In 2021, both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College recognized her with Distinguished Alumna Awards. She currently resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht's skill at layering nursery rhyme texts with classical melodies creates immediate recognizability without sacrificing musical sophistication. The integrated movement and staging elements make this piece naturally engaging for young singers while the counterpoint adds genuine compositional substance that keeps adult audiences invested.
What to expect
This arrangement sparkles with playful energy, weaving childhood rhymes into a sophisticated musical fabric that feels both whimsical and crafted. The four-minute arc balances humor and musical substance, creating moments of delight without sacrificing the integrity of the classical underpinnings.
Who it's for
Directors working with developing treble choirs or mixed ensembles at grades 4-7 will find this piece inviting for singers still building musical foundations. The combination of familiar texts and recognizable melodies lowers performance anxiety while the counterpoint stretches singers toward more mature harmonic thinking.
How to get the most out of it
- Prepare singers to navigate the overlapping melodic lines by rehearsing each voice part independently before combining them; the counterpoint requires secure part-singing throughout.
- Explore the recorded accompaniment early in rehearsal to establish tempo and harmonic context, then gradually build independence from it.
- Layer in the movement and staging suggestions incrementally so singers internalize the music before adding physical elements.
- Consider the optional orchestration for larger concerts or special events; even the 2-part version stands alone effectively in more intimate settings.
How to use it
Program this as an audience-friendly opener that sets a warm, accessible tone while demonstrating your singers' technical capability. Its brevity and inherent drama make it ideal for school assemblies, family concerts, or inter-generational performances where mixed musical backgrounds need to feel welcomed.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and singing independent melodic lines in counterpoint
- Maintaining ensemble blend while negotiating overlapping phrases
- Interpreting movement cues and staging while sustaining vocal focus
- Recognizing classical melodies and understanding how familiar material supports harmonic learning