Can-Can: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: Can-Can: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-46747
Price: 2.05 USD
Availability: InStock

(à la Solfège)

Music by Jacques Offenbach / arr., with words by Sally K. Albrecht

Item: 00-46747

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The unforgettable melody from Offenbach's opera, The Tales of Hoffman, has been inventively adapted into a lesson on solfège and the life of the composer himself! Perfect for practicing fluency with major scale solfège syllables, vocal agility, and crisp diction. Try performing this creative gem with hand signs, or add Sally's clever staging from the Movin' DVD.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Can-Can: 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 Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081532028

SKU: 00-46747

More about this title

About the Composer: Jacques Offenbach

Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) was a German-born French composer who became the master of operetta, transforming light musical theater into an art form that still defines entertainment music today. His gift for memorable melody, rhythmic vitality, and orchestral wit made him enormously popular during his lifetime, and works like The Tales of Hoffmann continue to delight audiences because the music itself is irresistible and endlessly adaptable.

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Why we love this

This arrangement takes one of opera's most infectious melodies and turns it into a pedagogically smart choral experience. Sally K. Albrecht's adaptation gives singers a genuine reason to engage with solfège—not as an abstract exercise, but as a tool for learning an actual masterwork they'll recognize and enjoy performing.

What to expect

Bright, energetic, and playful, with a melody that practically bounces off the page. The famous Can-Can tune carries its operatic pedigree while feeling completely accessible and fun to sing, whether you're moving through solfège syllables or adding Sally's choreography.

Who it's for

This octavo works for middle school and early high school choirs who are building solfège fluency and vocal agility alongside performance experience. It's equally valuable for singers who enjoy masterworks and want to connect concert repertoire to the fundamentals that make music readable and memorable.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the major scale passages with a clear sense of direction, letting the solfège syllables propel the line forward rather than sitting flatly on each note.
Crisp articulation transforms this from a pretty melody into something sparkly. Pay attention to consonant clarity, especially in faster passages, so the text and tonal character shine through.
If you use hand signs, commit fully to the visual coordination. It connects the kinesthetic experience of solfège directly to the listening and singing, making the major scale tangible for students who are still building interval awareness.
The recorded accompaniment locks in tempo and texture beautifully. Rehearse a cappella first to build ownership of the melody, then bring in the accompaniment to refine blend and intonation against a consistent harmonic foundation.

How to use it

Program this as an opener or a lighter moment in a choral concert, especially in a program that mixes classical repertoire with contemporary pieces. Its compactness (12 pages) and flexible staging options make it ideal for spring or end-of-year performances, or embed it into a lesson cycle focused on major scale application and Romantic-era operetta.