African Noel: SATB divisi Choral Octavo
Arr. André J. Thomas
Item: 00-PO-0002682
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Easy to sing tonally, but with divisi voices, constant rhythmic patterns add vitality and intensity to this arrangement. Sure to be the highlight of your Christmas program! Add the optional congas and tambourine for an authentic effect.
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Additional Details
Series:
Lawson-Gould
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0002682
Instrumentation:
Opt. Congas & Tambourine
More about this title
About the Arranger: Andre J. Thomas
André J. Thomas directs choral activities at Florida State University, where he holds the Owen F. Sellers Professorship in Choral Music Education. His academic training spans Friends University, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois, and his career has established him as one of the most sought-after clinicians and adjudicators in American choral music.
Thomas has conducted honor choirs and all-state ensembles across the United States and abroad, appearing at state and national conferences of the MENC and ACDA. His guest conducting credits include major orchestras and radio choirs in Europe and Asia, as well as the world-renowned World Youth Choir. Since 1988, he has served as Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus. As a composer and arranger, his works are published by Lawson-Gould, Hinshaw, Mark Foster, and several other major houses.
Why we love this
André J. Thomas knows exactly how to balance accessibility with musical substance, and this arrangement proves it. The divisi writing sits comfortably for most voices while the propulsive rhythmic drive ensures your choir will feel energized rather than burdened, making it an ideal closer for a holiday concert that needs genuine excitement without technical overreach.
What to expect
Propulsive and joyful, with steady rhythmic momentum that mirrors the forward drive of the text itself. The divisi writing creates a sense of layered conversation and celebration, while the tonal accessibility means your singers can focus on bringing that energy rather than wrestling with vocal technique.
Who it's for
Any SATB choir looking for a Christmas selection that breaks from traditional carols and offers genuine rhythmic vitality. The twelve pages are manageable for most programs, and the optional instrumental parts allow you to scale the production to your resources.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the rhythmic patterns crisp and locked in from the first rehearsal. The divisi sections depend on this foundation to create their intended intensity rather than muddy the texture.
- If you add the optional congas and tambourine, rehearse them early and separately. A percussionist who feels confident with the pulse will lift the entire ensemble's sense of groove.
- Don't let the a cappella sections lose energy. The constant rhythmic drive that defines the piece should remain even when instruments drop out.
- Shape the divisi voices so each part carries its own melodic weight. This prevents the arrangement from collapsing into a single harmonic block.
How to use it
Place this later in your Christmas concert where you need a decisive shift in mood and texture. It works particularly well following more reverent, sustained pieces, offering your audience a moment of unambiguous festive energy that closes strong.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic independence in divisi SATB writing
- Sustaining groove and pulse across sustained passages
- Blending layered rhythmic patterns without losing clarity
- Collaborating with optional instrumental parts (congas and tambourine)