Come, My Little Children: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words by Robert Louis Stevenson, music by Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0001792
$1.85
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A charming text about music from beloved children's writer Robert Louis Stevenson. The conservative vocal ranges and lilting lines are just right for younger choirs. A delicate flute obbligato (included in the publication) floats above.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001792
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades, earning annual ASCAP Special Music Awards since 1987 and maintaining more than 600 published works in print. Her reputation as a conductor and clinician spans the country's most prestigious venues, from Lincoln Center to Carnegie Hall to The Kennedy Center, where she has led honor choirs and festivals. Her editorial leadership at Alfred Music and earlier publishers positioned her to understand what schools actually need from their choral repertoire.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama and M.M. in Accompanying), and has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. In 2021, she received Distinguished Alumna Awards from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.
Why we love this
Albrecht writes for the voices you actually have in your middle school or elementary choir, avoiding the wide ranges and awkward tessituras that frustrate young singers. The text from Robert Louis Stevenson grounds this piece in genuine literature rather than generic school-song cheerfulness, giving students something real to interpret. The flute obbligato adds sophistication without demanding a virtuoso soloist, making this work equally effective in concert or festival settings.
What to expect
Charming and unhurried, with a gentle lilt that feels like a caring adult sharing a favorite poem with children. The flute adds an almost storybook quality, as if the melody is being illustrated as it unfolds.
Who it's for
This octavo suits elementary and middle school choirs, especially those with limited experience in part singing or smaller vocal ranges. It works equally well for festival performances and concert programs where you need a piece that sounds sophisticated but feels comfortable to sing.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the flute obbligato so it floats above the voices without drowning them out; this requires the flutist to listen actively rather than play at full volume.
- Shape the lilting lines with subtle dynamic shaping rather than rigid metering; let the text rhythms breathe naturally.
- Encourage your singers to connect with Stevenson's text emotionally first; the music will follow more naturally once they understand what they're saying.
How to use it
Pair this with other Albrecht works or other literary settings to build a concert theme around children's literature and music. It sits naturally on a program between more energetic pieces, offering a moment of quieter connection that audiences find memorable.
Skills your students will build
- Part independence in 2-part writing
- Lyrical phrasing and text interpretation
- Breath control for sustained melodic lines
- Blend and balance with instrumental accompaniment