All Alone Beneath the Mistletoe: SATB Choral Octavo
Music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0003860
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Related Items
All Alone Beneath the Mistletoe: SSA Choral Octavo |
$2.25
|
View |
Description
Turn back the clock with this fun-filled, slow-rockin' 50's style piece which spoofs a holiday off-again, on-again romance and ends with the singers not alone beneath the mistletoe. The SoundTrax Cassette features an authentic 50's sound complete with baritone sax. Add staging to make it a real show-stopper. InstruPax includes: director's score, 2 alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, rhythm.
All Alone Beneath the Mistletoe: SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003860
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later recognized with a Distinguished Alumni award. His eight-year tenure in music publishing administration, including service on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America, shaped his understanding of what works in educational settings. He has composed more than 800 choral works performed worldwide and received multiple ASCAP Special Awards for his contributions to standard music.
Beyond composition, Althouse has built a substantial catalog of educational resources. He co-authored The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and created classroom materials such as Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. As a writer member of ASCAP and longtime contributor to American musical culture, he remains active in music education advocacy through his work with the Folk Art Society of America and the North Carolina Master Chorale.
Why we love this
The 50's pastiche here is genuinely fun to perform and teach. Althouse nails the era's sonic markers, complete with saxophone coloring, while the staged romance narrative gives your singers something to play with beyond the notes. You get built-in entertainment value without sacrificing musical integrity.
What to expect
A jukebox spins to life, and you're transported to a high school gymnasium in 1955. The melody sits easy on the voice, the harmonic language is accessible but warm, and the narrative arc builds with winking humor. It swings without apology and lands its emotional payoff because the writing serves the story first.
Who it's for
Directors programming winter concerts who want a showstopper with genuine charm and minimal pretense. Your choir should be comfortable with SATB voicing and ready to embrace theatrical performance; this works best with singers who can commit to character and comic sensibility without embarrassment.
How to get the most out of it
- Commit fully to the period style. Listen to the recorded accompaniment repeatedly to absorb the shuffle rhythm and swing feel; your choir's phrasing will naturally adjust.
- Work the staging as integral rehearsal material, not an afterthought. The story arc (confusion, reconciliation, mistletoe payoff) guides phrasing and ensemble balance.
- Balance the saxophone parts carefully in the InstruPax arrangement. The baritone sax carries melodic weight in spots; make sure it reads clearly against choral lines without dominating.
- Layer the staging ideas gradually. Start with basic blocking, then add character work and comic timing once the music is secure.
How to use it
Use this as your closing number on a winter concert, where its brightness and theatrical closure leave the audience smiling on their way out. Pair it with slower, more reverent holiday pieces earlier in the program to create dynamic contrast. The InstruPax arrangement makes it flexible for ensembles with varying instrumental resources, so you can scale the accompaniment to what you have available.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with period-specific stylistic phrasing and swing feel
- Coordinate ensemble singing with choreographed movement and staging
- Blend SATB voicing while maintaining character and narrative intention
- Listen to and balance with live instrumental accompaniment