Dormi, Dormi, O Bel Bambin: SSAA & Soprano Solo, a cappella Choral Octavo
Italian Christmas Carol / arr. Robert DeCormier
Item: 00-PO-0000880
$1.80
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This beautifully expressive and artistic a cappella arrangement of the well-known Italian carol features a soprano solo, luscious harmonies, and a singable text, lulling the Christ child to sleep.
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Additional Details
Series:
Lawson-Gould
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000880
More about this title
About the Arranger: Robert DeCormier
Robert DeCormier's career spanned from Broadway stages to concert halls across North America, grounded in his training at the Juilliard School. He served as music director of the New York Choral Society for seventeen years, conducted and arranged for Harry Belafonte, and worked with Peter, Paul and Mary from 1978 to 2010. His versatility extended across multiple institutions: he taught conducting and ensembles at the Eastman School of Music, helped establish the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and founded the professional vocal ensemble Counterpoint, which recorded extensively and mentored high school choirs throughout New England.
DeCormier's arrangement work ranged from African-American spirituals to folk songs from around the world, appearing on numerous classical labels. His compositions and arrangements earned recognition including a Vermont Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Choral Arts Foundation. His television credits include BBC choral programming and a CBS Emmy-winning special with Harry Belafonte.
Why we love this
DeCormier's hand with harmony shines here. The soprano solo sits beautifully against the a cappella blend, and the arrangement respects both the carol's simplicity and the singers' capacity for genuine artistry. At Grade 3, it's accessible enough for most school choirs while offering the lush sonorities directors look for in their Christmas concert's quieter moments.
What to expect
Intimate and serene. The arrangement cradles the text (a lullaby sung to the Christ child) in warm, consonant harmonies that feel both timeless and tender. There's a contemplative quality here; this is music meant for reverent singing, not showmanship.
Who it's for
Choirs with solid intonation and the ability to support a solo vocalist without oversinging. The Grade 3 difficulty makes it suitable for high school ensembles, college treble choirs, and advanced community choruses looking for accessible holiday material with real sophistication.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the solo soprano line with long phrases that mirror a lullaby's gentle contour, resisting the urge to break at every bar line.
- Balance the supporting voices so they cushion rather than overwhelm the solo; blend matters more than volume.
- Let the Italian text breathe naturally; avoid over-articulation that would disturb the restful character the arrangement creates.
- Work for resonance and space between the four voice parts rather than density; this arrangement benefits from clarity over thickness.
How to use it
Pair this with other quieter carols to create a meditative section within a holiday concert, or open a program with it to establish an unhurried, devotional tone. Its twelve pages and accessible voicing make it workable even late in the rehearsal season when you need something that sounds polished without requiring months of preparation.
Skills your students will build
- Singing a cappella with secure intonation across four parts
- Balancing and blending in support of a featured soloist
- Italian text pronunciation and interpretation
- Sustained legit singing without vibrato excess
- Reading and performing SSAA voicing