December Rose: SSA Choral Octavo
Words from the German Carol "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," music from a Traditional Irish Carol / Arr., with additional Words, by Tom Fettke and Thomas Grassi
Item: 00-PO-0003622
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
The text from "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" is set to a wistful Irish folk song in this one-of-a-kind Christmas treasure. An optional violin part brings a chill to a song full of warmth. Breathtaking!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003622
Instrumentation:
with Opt. Violin
More about this title
About the Arranger: Tom Fettke
Tom Fettke has shaped the landscape of choral music in churches and schools through five decades of composing and arranging. His catalog spans hundreds of published works and recordings, including The Majesty and Glory of Your Name, which continues to resonate in choirs worldwide. He earned degrees from Oakland City College and California State University at Hayward, and holds a California Lifetime Music Credential in Secondary Music.
Fettke's career reflects deep roots in music education and church music leadership. He taught vocal music in California public schools, directed choirs in congregations large and small for over 30 years, and served as Director of Choral Activities and Supervisor of Music for the Redwood Christian School System in Castro Valley. His editorial work on The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration and The Celebration Hymnal has placed millions of hymnals in churches across North America. He now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Why we love this
Fettke and Grassi have found something rare here: a setting of one of Christmas's most profound texts to a melody that feels both introspective and fresh. The Irish folk tune brings unexpected character to "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," creating an arrangement that feels like discovering something ancient that was always meant to be this way. SSA voicing keeps it accessible for developing choirs, and the optional violin lifts the whole piece into something genuinely special.
What to expect
Wistful and warm in equal measure, this setting draws listeners into quiet reflection rather than exultation. The Irish melody carries an almost bittersweet quality that deepens the spiritual meaning of the text, while the harmonies create a blanket of vocal sound that feels both intimate and spacious. There is genuine beauty in its restraint.
Who it's for
SSA choirs in schools, churches, and community groups looking for a Christmas piece with real substance and accessibility. This works well for singers who can handle simple four-part harmony without extensive divisi, and it rewards intermediate-level choirs that want to program something beyond the standard carol arrangements.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the soprano melody prominently enough to land the text clearly, but allow the alto and second soprano parts to bloom through without pushing. This tune rewards careful blend.
- If you include the optional violin, rehearse it early so singers hear how it frames their lines. The instrumental color shapes the vocal approach.
- Shape the phrase endings with slight ritardando; this style of tune invites a gentle, reflective pace rather than straight metronomic time.
How to use it
Position this as a thoughtful anchor in a Christmas service or concert, perhaps nestled between a more jubilant opening and a faster-paced closer. It also works beautifully in a holiday program that blends sacred and folk traditions, or as a standalone feature that gives singers a chance to demonstrate lyrical singing and ensemble balance.
Skills your students will build
- Blending soprano, alto, and second soprano lines in simple SSA voicing
- Shaping phrases with legit text underlay in a folk melody context
- Balancing optional instrumental parts with vocal texture
- Building confidence with a melody that sits comfortably in SSA range