Blizzard on the Way!: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Althouse brings seasoned craft to seasonal programming. His knack for balancing approachable melodies with genuine musicality means your ensemble will sound polished without spending rehearsal time on unnecessary complexity. The included movement and staging suggestions transform this from a simple octavo into a complete performance package ready for winter concerts.

Dramatic and kinetic, this piece captures the tension and excitement of weather closing in. Sharp rhythms and strategic dynamic shifts create momentum while Althouse's melodic writing keeps the piece memorable and engaging for singers and audiences alike.

This is ideal for intermediate to advanced choirs looking for a winter concert piece with built-in visual interest. It works equally well for high school ensembles and adult choirs seeking repertoire that's musically satisfying without demanding extensive rehearsal time.

• Study the recorded accompaniment first as an ensemble so everyone hears the harmonic context and tempo before rehearsal begins.
• Choreograph the suggested staging during a dedicated rehearsal block; coordinate this work with your accompanist so transitions happen smoothly.
• Lock in unison or homophonic sections early to establish confidence, then layer in any divisi passages gradually.
• Balance energy with clarity in the rhythmic figures to capture the urgent mood of an approaching storm without rushing.

Program this in the first half of your winter concert to set an energetic tone, or use it as a bridge between slower, reflective pieces. The movement component makes it an effective opener that wakes up the audience and showcases your ensemble's versatility.

• Reading and executing rhythmic precision in dramatic contexts
• Coordinating movement with singing
• Dynamic control and contrast
• Ensemble blend across voice parts