Cardinal: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0005802
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Few things compare to the sight of a red cardinal against a backdrop of winter white. This magical seasonal selection by Andy Beck captures the wonder of nature, while offering choral writing well suited to 2-part voices: taking turns with the melody and an easy-to-sing countermelody. Optional sleighbells and mark tree create even more shimmer.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005802
Instrumentation:
Opt. Sleigh Bells, Mark Tree
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged over 450 choral works now in print. His catalog spans secular and sacred pieces, children's musicals, and foundational vocal resources including Sing at First Sight and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. His music reaches singers across the globe, evident from frequent performances documented online.
Beck holds degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University. He regularly appears as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for music educators nationwide, and has served as commissioned composer and conductor for honor choirs and all-state groups throughout the Southeast. An accomplished tenor, he performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and brings decades of studio singing experience alongside his work in musical theatre direction.
Why we love this
Beck's instinct for what 2-part voices can accomplish shines here. The piece doesn't ask singers to split hairs on difficult ranges or complex harmony; instead, it trades the melody back and forth, keeping both parts engaged and rewarding. The optional percussion layers let you scale the production to your needs, whether you're building toward contest season or seeking a winter selection for a low-key performance.
What to expect
Crystalline and serene, like watching winter unfold in slow motion. The writing creates space and light, never crowding the singers with busy counterpoint, while the optional percussion additions conjure the sparkle of snow and frost. There's warmth underneath the cool imagery, a sense of wonder rather than starkness.
Who it's for
Directors working with treble or mixed 2-part ensembles who want a seasonal piece that's musically satisfying but not technically demanding. It's equally at home in a small community choir or a middle school ensemble exploring part independence without getting bogged down in range complications.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the handoff of the melody between parts by having singers mark where the tune shifts, so neither section oversings when they're on the countermelody line.
- If you add sleighbells and mark tree, place those instruments where they can be heard clearly without drowning out the voices; even a modest shake carries across a concert hall.
- Lean into the imagery during rehearsal: ask singers to picture that cardinal and the season's quiet, which will shape their phrasing and dynamic choices naturally.
How to use it
Slot this into a winter concert as an opener or a gentle transition between heavier pieces. Its seasonal focus and accessible writing make it a natural fit for holiday programming, but the sophistication of the voiceleading also works well in a mixed recital where you want to showcase what your ensemble can do with restrained, elegant arranging. At 12 pages, it's substantial enough to anchor a short concert by itself or complement other seasonal selections.
Skills your students will build
- Trading melody between parts and maintaining musical line while singing harmonic support
- Blending treble voices at different dynamic levels
- Reading and performing in 2-part texture with strategic countermelody movement
- Responding to optional instrumental color without losing focus on vocal line