Away in a Manger: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: Away in a Manger: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-SV99118
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

Traditional / arr. Patsy Ford Simms

Item: 00-SV99118

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Patsy Ford Simms brings us this simple arrangement of the classic Christmas carol. She adds a touch of class with the easy-to-sing descant part. If your school choir performs traditional carols or if you have junior choirs in your church programs, this one's ideal for you.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Away in a Manger: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Studio PR Catalog

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 029156987065

SKU: 00-SV99118

More about this title

About the Arranger: Patsy Ford Simms

Patsy Ford Simms began her publishing career in 1981 and has since created over 300 pieces for educational and church settings with major publishers including Shawnee Press. Her work emerged from a genuine classroom need: during her early years teaching, she found few quality choral octavos written for junior high and middle school voices, so she began writing and arranging to fill that gap.

Simms holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Knoxville College, a Master of Education from the University of Louisville, and a doctorate in Music Education from Columbia Pacific University. She taught for 30 years across grades K-12 and at the Youth Performing Arts School before retiring from full-time teaching. Her contributions to music education have earned her international recognition as an arranger, composer, and clinician; she has presented in Italy and Africa, received multiple ASCAP Special Music Awards, and had two compositions selected for MENC World's Largest Concerts.

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Why we love this

Simms understands exactly what junior high and middle school choirs need because she built her career writing for them. The descant line here adds textural interest without creating voice-part chaos, and the overall tessitura sits comfortably for developing singers. You get a beloved carol that feels fresh while remaining accessible enough for young singers to nail quickly.

What to expect

This arrangement honors the carol's gentle devotional character while adding a hint of sophistication through the descant. The familiar melody remains front and center, allowing even less experienced singers to connect with the text and tradition immediately.

Who it's for

Junior high and middle school choirs will find this manageable and rewarding to learn. Churches with developing youth choirs also have an ideal addition to their holiday offerings. The simple 2-part voicing makes it accessible for singers still building range and independence.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the descant carefully so it floats above the main melody rather than competing with it; think of it as adding shimmer, not leading the piece.
Find a tempo that lets both parts sing through the phrase without rushing; younger singers often need permission to breathe naturally across the bar line.
Shape the dynamics with the text, especially into 'sleeping in heavenly peace' where a gentle diminuendo rewards the lyrical content.
Encourage the lower part to anchor the harmony with a warm, supported tone; they're carrying the harmonic foundation while the descant shines above.

How to use it

Place this in a Christmas concert as a palate cleanser between more complex pieces, or use it as the anchor piece for a junior choir segment. It works equally well as a tender moment in a mixed holiday programming with instrumental and vocal pieces at varying levels.