Away in a Manger: SSA Choral Octavo

Name: Away in a Manger: SSA Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-4741
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. Sherri Porterfield

Item: 00-4741

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An appealing setting of the James Spilman melody Flow Gently, Sweet Afton with the familiar Away In A Manger text. Simple voice leading allows time to work on dynamics and phrasing to bring out the best in your SSA choir. Tasteful, flowing accompaniment.

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081004464

SKU: 00-4741

More about this title

About the Arranger: Sherri Porterfield

Sherri Porterfield directs choirs at Cedar Park Middle School in Cedar Park, Texas, and has built a reputation for competitive excellence across her teaching career in Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. Her ensembles have earned numerous first-place and sweepstakes awards at competitions and performed at state music educators conventions. She has also served as an adjunct assistant professor of music education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

With over 175 published choral compositions to her name, Porterfield has established herself as a prolific voice in choral music. Alfred Music Publishing and other major houses represent her work, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has recognized her contributions annually with ASCAP awards since 1997. She holds a B.S.E. in music education from the University of Memphis and a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and she has served as a clinician and guest conductor across the United States.

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Why we love this

Porterfield's setting pairs the familiar Away in a Manger text with the lyrical Flow Gently, Sweet Afton melody, creating an arrangement that feels both fresh and devotional. The voice leading is straightforward enough to leave room for interpretive work on dynamics and phrasing, which means your singers can focus on artistry rather than survival. This is exactly the kind of piece that sounds more polished than it is to teach.

What to expect

The arrangement unfolds with gentle warmth, anchored by a piano accompaniment that flows and supports rather than overshadows. The familiar carol text settles into an unfamiliar (but graceful) melody, creating a moment of recognition and discovery that feels both restful and sincere.

Who it's for

This octavo works beautifully for SSA choirs looking for accessible sacred repertoire that doesn't compromise musicality. Middle school and high school choirs with limited rehearsal time on challenging material will find this forgiving yet rewarding, while church choirs seeking a thoughtful Christmas arrangement will appreciate its reverent simplicity.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the phrase contours gently across the flowing melody; resist the urge to breathe too frequently, letting the accompaniment support longer musical lines.
Layer your dynamics deliberately. The simplicity of the voice leading invites contrast between verses, so experiment with soft, intimate statements followed by fuller, more open passages.
Balance the melody evenly across your soprano section so no single voice dominates; with SSA voicing, the melody lives in the first soprano, and blend matters enormously.

How to use it

Place this in the quieter moment of your Christmas concert, perhaps as a transition between more energetic selections or as the opening number that sets a reflective tone. It also serves well in church services or caroling programs where intimacy and accessibility matter equally.