December Nights: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Music by Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0006517
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
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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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0006517
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades, first as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at major educational publishers including Alfred Music, then as a prolific composer with more than 600 published choral works and 75 songbooks and musicals in circulation. Her contributions have earned her consecutive ASCAP Special Music Awards since 1987, and she has conducted honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), and has taught in music departments at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. She is particularly recognized for her innovative integration of choral movement into performance. A Cleveland native, she currently resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award 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 holiday music that actually celebrates the December calendar rather than defaulting to Christmas alone. The piece's quick-learn design and built-in staging suggestions mean your singers can focus on joy and movement instead of struggling with parts, making it realistic repertoire for the December concert crunch.
What to expect
Bright and celebratory, with an infectious energy that captures the excitement of the season across cultures. The piece radiates holiday warmth without requiring complicated vocal technique or extended rehearsal time.
Who it's for
Choirs preparing December concerts who need a quick-learning, inclusive holiday selection that honors multiple traditions. The SAB voicing keeps the piece accessible for mixed choirs with limited rehearsal time and varying vocal maturity levels.
How to get the most out of it
- Consult the "Showtime!" video referenced in the octavo to see Albrecht's staging suggestions in action; this visual reference clarifies how movement can enhance the piece without complicating rehearsal time.
- Balance the brightness across all three parts by checking that middle voices aren't getting buried under sopranos; SAB writing can easily hide the alto line if dynamics aren't actively shaped.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in the piece's lively tempo during early rehearsals, then gradually move to piano-only or a cappella sections to build ensemble independence.
How to use it
Open your December concert with this piece to establish an inclusive, joyful tone that acknowledges your entire community. Its short length and inherent staging make it an ideal opener or closer that energizes both singers and audience at a time when rehearsal calendars are tight.
Skills your students will build
- Singing as a unified ensemble in a quick-learn context with confidence
- Performing with intentional movement and staging integrated into singing
- Balancing three-part harmony while maintaining clarity across all voice parts
- Building multicultural awareness through repertoire celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Posada, and Kwanzaa