Can You See the Star? Cover Image

Can You See the Star?: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$27.99 USD
$27.99 USD
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Can You See the Star? Cover Image
Can You See the Star?: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Can You See the Star?: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse

Item: 00-30987
$27.99
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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
UPC: 038081337593
SKU: 00-30987

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over four decades as a composer, conductor, and advocate for movement-integrated singing. Since 1987, she has received the ASCAP Special Music Award annually and maintains more than 600 published choral works in print, alongside 75 larger songbooks and musicals. Her conducting has been sought at honor choirs nationwide, including prestigious festivals at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center. She served as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music and other major educational publishers, directly influencing the repertoire available to schools and churches across the country.

Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977), and the University of Miami Frost School of Music (M.M. in Accompanying, 1979). She has taught at Oakland University in Michigan, Jersey City State College in New Jersey, and Meredith College in North Carolina. Her leadership extends beyond composition and teaching; she chaired the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and received their "Pillar of Leadership" award. In 2021, both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College recognized her with Distinguished Alumna Awards. She lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband Jay Althouse, a respected composer and arranger in his own right.

Why we love this

The dual-text structure gives you genuine flexibility: sing the Christmas text in December or the general sacred text year-round, all without reprinting. The harmonic contrast between the contemplative minor-key verses and the uplifting major-key chorus creates musical shape that resonates with audiences, and the free online percussion parts invite student instrumentalists to participate without stretching your budget.

What to expect

The minor-key verses unfold like a gentle question, their echo structure creating intimacy and reflection. The shift to a bright major-key chorus arrives with sudden warmth and affirmation, lifting the singers and listeners into something celebratory and hopeful.

Who it's for

Directors seeking a flexible sacred piece that works in both Christmas and general concert contexts, with enough harmonic interest to hold adult and mature youth choirs. Small to mid-sized ensembles benefit from the straightforward voicing typical of Albrecht's work, and churches particularly appreciate a piece that earns regular rotation beyond a single season.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the minor-key verses with restraint and clarity in the echo format; let the silence between phrases breathe so the structural repetition becomes expressive rather than mechanical.
  • Brighten your vowel formation and lift your energy noticeably as you move into the major-key chorus; this harmonic shift should feel like stepping into light.
  • Download the free percussion parts ahead of time and distribute them to interested students; even simple parts add texture and engagement without requiring specialized musicians.

How to use it

Pair this with other sacred works to build a thematic concert around faith, light, or seasonal reflection. Its moderate difficulty and emotional accessibility make it ideal as a centerpiece piece that bookends a program, or as the opener that establishes a contemplative mood before moving into lighter fare.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing contrasting harmonic colors (minor and major tonalities) with tonal clarity
  • Executing echo-format melodies with rhythmic precision and dynamic control
  • Transitioning between structural sections with musical intention rather than abruptness
  • Blending with instrumental parts when percussion accompaniment is added

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