December Nights: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: December Nights: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-21066
Price: 1.65 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Sally K. Albrecht

Item: 00-21066

$1.65

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Highlight all the December holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Posada, Kwanzaa) with this lively holiday piece. "December nights, December lights. Celebrations all across the land." Sally Albrecht's optional staging is included in the publication. It's a quick learn piece...always helpful at holiday concert time. Bright, lively, and full of holiday cheer, no matter which holiday you celebrate. Staging Suggestions are featured on Sally's "Showtime!" video, Alfred #21176.

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081199887

SKU: 00-21066

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has shaped choral music education for over thirty years, first as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music and through her prolific output of more than 600 choral works. Her compositions have been performed at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, where she has regularly conducted honor choirs and led clinics across the country. 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 served on the music faculties at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College.

A consistent recipient of the ASCAP Special Music Award since 1987, Albrecht is particularly recognized for her innovative work integrating movement with choral singing. Her catalog includes 75 larger works and musicals alongside her numerous octavos and smaller choral pieces. She resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where she collaborates with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse, and maintains active roles in music education advocacy and leadership in honor societies.

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Why we love this

Albrecht writes holiday repertoire that actually works in real rehearsal timelines. This piece learns quickly without sacrificing musicality or inclusivity, and its built-in staging possibilities turn what could be a standard holiday number into a memorable moment. The multi-holiday text makes programming thoughtful and welcoming regardless of your school's demographics.

What to expect

Bright and infectious, with an easy-to-remember melody and driving rhythm that captures holiday excitement without veering into sentimentality. The piece radiates warmth and celebration across multiple traditions, making it feel genuinely joyful rather than perfunctory.

Who it's for

Choirs with treble or mixed 2-part voicings at the middle school level and above who need reliable, fast-learning material for winter concerts. It works equally well for singers new to part-singing as for ensemble singers seeking a feel-good closer.

How to get the most out of it

Incorporate the optional staging suggestions to build student investment. Even simple, block-structured movement amplifies the celebratory energy and keeps young singers engaged during rehearsals.
Balance brightness with clarity. The lively tempo invites exuberant singing, but precision in rhythmic entrances and part independence matters more as the piece accelerates.
Use the recorded accompaniment during early rehearsals to establish the groove and harmonic framework, freeing your attention to shape phrasing and text articulation.
Emphasize the inclusive text by giving singers a moment to discuss what each holiday represents. This context deepens their investment in delivering the piece authentically rather than simply executing notes and rhythms.

How to use it

Close a holiday concert with this piece to send audiences home in a buoyant mood, or use it as your opening number to set a festive tone. Its quick learning curve makes it ideal for the compressed rehearsal schedules that come with winter concerts, freeing up time to refine more demanding repertoire.