African Noel: TTBB, a cappella Choral Octavo
Arr. André J. Thomas
Item: 00-PO-0003226
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Now available for men, this best-selling arrangement features constant rhythmic intensity from start to finish. Add the optional percussion to increase the effect.
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Additional Details
Series:
Lawson-Gould
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003226
Instrumentation:
Opt. Percussion
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 Music. His training spans Friends University, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois, and his work as a clinician and adjudicator has taken him across six continents, from honor choirs at ACDA and MENC conventions to residencies with the World Youth Choir in Asia and Europe.
Thomas has established himself as both a conductor of major orchestras and choirs worldwide, from the Berlin Radio Choir to China's People's Liberation Orchestra, and as a prolific composer and arranger. His publications with Lawson-Gould, Hinshaw, Mark Foster, and other leading publishers reflect his deep engagement with choral writing, and he has directed the Tallahassee Community Chorus since 1988.
Why we love this
Thomas built this arrangement on relentless forward motion; the rhythmic propulsion never lets up, making it an energizing closer for any holiday concert. The optional percussion layer gives you real flexibility to scale the arrangement to your ensemble's size and instrumentation, while the four-voice flexibility (TB, TTB, TBB, or TTBB) means you can program it whether your men's section is thin or robust.
What to expect
African Noel pulses with infectious rhythmic intensity that channels joy and celebration through forward-driving momentum. The constant interplay between parts creates a sense of gathering and communion, building from verse to verse with warmth and infectious joy that feels contemporary and deeply rooted at once.
Who it's for
Men's choirs and male voice ensembles looking for a Christmas arrangement with genuine rhythmic energy and style beyond the traditional. This works equally well in concert choirs with strong male sections or in college/community men's groups seeking something contemporary and engaging.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the rhythmic groove early in rehearsal by having the choir snap or clap the underlying pulse while singing; this locks the constant motion into muscle memory and keeps the piece from dragging.
- If you add percussion, let the drums anchor the tempo while the voices dance around them. The percussion shouldn't crowd the voices but rather frame and energize them.
- Pay attention to vowel consistency across the men's voices during the faster passages. Unifying the vowel shapes will tighten the harmonic blend and prevent the rhythm from becoming muddy.
- Balance the lower voices carefully so the TB and TBB options don't lose definition. The arrangement thrives on clarity across all four parts.
How to use it
Use this as a second-half opener to shift energy after a block of traditional holiday material, or as a finale if you want your concert to exit on exuberant momentum. The flexibility in voicing and the optional percussion make it ideal for hybrid concert formats where you're mixing full choir with men's-only numbers.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic independence and precision in complex, layered rhythms
- Blending and balancing across four parts at faster tempos
- Coordination with optional percussion accompaniment
- Stylistic understanding of contemporary African-influenced sacred music
- Sustaining phrasing and energy through extended passages without harmonic anchors (a cappella singing)