Can You See the Star? Cover Image

Can You See the Star?: SAB Choral Octavo

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Can You See the Star? Cover Image
Can You See the Star?: SAB Choral Octavo

Can You See the Star?: SAB Choral Octavo

Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse

Item: 00-30985
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Description
A multi-use choral featuring two texts---one for Christmas and one for general use. The minor key echo-format melody on the verses contrasts with a sparkling major key sound on the chorus. Percussion parts are available free, online. Church or school use.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081337579
SKU: 00-30985

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has shaped choral music education for over three decades, first as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music and through her prolific output of more than 600 published choral works. Her career spans conducting honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, while maintaining a steady stream of recognition with ASCAP Special Music Awards dating back to 1987. She holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), and has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College.

Albrecht is particularly celebrated for her innovative integration of movement into choral performance. She co-creates much of her work with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse, and together they continue to write for school and church choirs from their home in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Her contributions to music education have been recognized with the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College.

Why we love this

The dual-text design makes this genuinely versatile: sing it as a Christmas piece in December or reprogram it with the general text for spring concert or Easter services without learning new music. The harmonic contrast between minor-key verses and major-key chorus creates memorable shape and keeps singers engaged, while the rhythmic echo-format melody in the verses gives choirs a chance to explore call-and-response textures without complexity.

What to expect

Verses unfold with gentle, questioning introspection in a minor tonality, creating space and restraint. The chorus erupts into brightness and warmth, bathed in major key light and offering a moment of resolved joy that contrasts beautifully with what came before.

Who it's for

Church choirs and school singers at the developing level who benefit from shorter, manageable octavos with flexible performance options. Directors serving dual contexts (school holiday concerts and church services) will particularly value the two-text approach, which extends the life of the arrangement across the calendar year.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the minor-key verses with clear dynamic restraint; let them feel introspective before the chorus brightens. This contrast matters more than tempo.
  • Incorporate the free online percussion parts if available to your ensemble. Even simple accompaniment lifts the sparkling quality of the chorus.
  • Rehearse the echo-format melody in verses by having one section sing the phrase while another enters on the repeat. This locks ensemble precision and clarifies the musical idea.

How to use it

Slot this into your December concert as the closing Christmas selection, then revive it in spring using the alternate text for a lenten or Easter service program. The 12-page format keeps it manageable for ensembles working with limited rehearsal time.

Skills your students will build

  • Managing harmonic color shift between minor and major tonalities
  • Executing echo-format melody and call-and-response entries
  • Balancing dynamic contrast within a single piece
  • Singing SAB voicing with clarity in three-part mixed ensemble

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