Fall Leaves: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words by Tigerlilly Holyoak, music and additional words by Penny Rodriguez
Item: 00-PO-0007197
$2.30
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This playful piece is perfect for the beginning of the school year. Charming lyrics, penned by a 7-year-old student, capture the joy of autumn. A unison verse swirls into simple call-and-response punctuated by a bridge in beginning 2-part harmony. A cheerful key change tosses the leaves higher into the air before tapering to a quiet "I love fall leaves" ending.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007197
More about this title
About the Composer: Penny Rodriguez
Penny Rodriguez began her musical journey at age 6, learning piano in Peru while her parents worked as missionaries. She went on to earn a piano performance degree from Moody/American Conservatory of Music and has built a career as a pianist, composer, and recording artist with 11 albums to her name.
Rodriguez's catalog spans piano publications and choral works, though her recent compositional focus has shifted toward art songs for solo voice and piano, setting carefully chosen poetry to music. She lives near Indianapolis with her husband, Dave, and finds her greatest inspiration in time spent with their grandchildren.
Why we love this
Rodriguez taps into genuine childhood perspective by setting lyrics written by a 7-year-old student, which gives this piece an authenticity that feels refreshing beside more conventionally crafted fall songs. The harmonic arc is smart: unison and call-and-response build ensemble confidence before introducing 2-part writing, and the key change lands with real joy rather than feeling forced. It's concert-ready, festival-appropriate, and genuinely fun to sing without a trace of condescension.
What to expect
Sunlight filtering through branches, the specific kind of joy that comes from noticing small seasonal changes. The music moves with buoyancy and genuine warmth, never precious or over-arranged. There's lightness throughout, right up until the gentle landing on those final words.
Who it's for
This piece works beautifully for middle school and early high school choirs, especially those with mixed experience levels. Singers building confidence in 2-part harmony will find the progression logical and achievable, while directors seeking programming that connects to students' lives will appreciate the student-authored text.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the unison verse to establish a clear, unified sound. This foundation makes the call-and-response section feel conversational rather than chaotic.
- Shape the call-and-response dynamics so the calls pop but the responses remain warm. Think of it as playful back-and-forth rather than echo.
- Approach the key change as a lift in energy and brightness. This is where the leaves swirl highest; let your tempo and articulation reflect that excitement.
- Bring the final "I love fall leaves" refrain back to simplicity and intimacy. The dynamic drop matters as much as the harmonic return.
How to use it
Open a fall concert with this piece to set an uplifting tone and establish immediate connection with the audience. It pairs naturally with other seasonal selections and gives singers an early-concert success that builds momentum for more demanding repertoire later in the program.
Skills your students will build
- Call-and-response singing with clear distinction between choral sections
- Introduction to 2-part harmony with straightforward voice independence
- Key modulation awareness and the emotional effect of harmonic shift
- Dynamic control and phrasing in contrasting sections (unison to harmony to key change to soft ending)