Christmas Lullaby: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
By Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0000059
$1.65
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Description
Warm the hearts of your audience with this tender lullaby appropriate for all choirs. A delicate melody gracefully floats over rich harmonies and echoed counter-lines through musical quotes from "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger." Sweet and lovely.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000059
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged more than 450 choral works now in active performance around the globe. His pedagogical resources for choral singers—including Sing at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique—reflect his deep commitment to music literacy and vocal technique.
Beyond the page, Beck remains active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for ensembles across the United States and beyond. He holds degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, performs as a tenor, and has served as an Alfred Music studio singer since 1992. His work as a commissioned composer for honor choirs and his involvement with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir demonstrate his ongoing investment in choral artistry at every level.
Why we love this
Beck's integration of "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger" feels organic rather than superimposed, creating a piece that honors familiar carols while standing on its own musical ground. The SAB voicing is genuinely singable without sacrificing harmonic depth, and the counter-lines add dimension without overcomplicating rehearsal time.
What to expect
Gentle and contemplative, this lullaby wraps familiar hymn melodies in soft harmonies that feel both intimate and ensemble-focused. The counter-lines create a sense of quiet conversation between voices, as if singers are exchanging a shared moment of peace.
Who it's for
Any choir with SAB capability—whether a school ensemble, community choir, or church choir—will find this piece accessible and rewarding. The writing assumes solid ensemble blend and basic part-singing maturity but does not demand advanced vocal technique or sight-reading skill.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the main melody with the counter-lines by rehearsing each part separately first, then blend at half-voice to hear how the lines interact before bringing the full sound back.
- Shape the phrase endings gently; this lullaby thrives on breath control and legato line rather than rhythmic precision, so allow sopranos to lead the contour while altos and basses support underneath.
- Consider using the recorded accompaniment in rehearsals to anchor ensemble confidence, then transition to live piano or a cappella for concert to build interpretive independence.
- Keep the dynamic range subtle and intimate; resist the urge to swell beyond mezzo-forte, which preserves the tender quality that makes this piece effective in worship or concert settings.
How to use it
Program this in a Christmas concert's quieter segment, perhaps after a more spirited holiday number, to give your audience a moment of reflection. It also works beautifully in worship settings, Advent services, or as an encore piece when you want to leave listeners with something tender and memorable.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in SAB voicing with independent part integrity
- Blending counter-melody lines with primary melody
- Sustaining legato phrasing and breath control over longer phrases
- Performing hymn-based material with musical sensitivity
- Balancing dynamic nuance in intimate ensemble contexts