Follow That Wondrous Star: 2-Part Choral Octavo

$2.25 USD

Follow That Wondrous Star: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: Follow That Wondrous Star: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-17715
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

A Partner Song with "We Three Kings"

Music by Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid

Item: 00-17715

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$2.25

Shipped

One moment…

Singable and accessible partner song combining "We Three Kings" with a new melody. Practical and creative choral perfection for young school choirs.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Follow That Wondrous Star: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample videos found.

Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081157559

SKU: 00-17715

Instrumentation: Opt. Bells

More about this title

About the Composer: Mary Donnelly

Mary Donnelly grew up in Reno, Nevada and studied English and French at the University of Nevada before discovering her passion for music education. She earned a Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she focused on integrating the arts across the curriculum. Over three decades, she taught general music and choir in elementary and middle schools throughout the Washoe County School District.

In 1985, Donnelly began collaborating with George L. O. Strid when their principal challenged them to write a musical for Reading Week. That first project, The Million Dollar Mystery, launched a prolific partnership spanning over two hundred songs and twenty-five musicals. She remains active in ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

This arrangement threads a new melody through the familiar "We Three Kings" tune so seamlessly that singers feel like they're discovering something fresh rather than learning something old. The 2-part writing sits comfortably for young choirs without requiring extensive vocal range or technical maturity, making it genuinely singable in a classroom setting. Adding optional bells lets you expand the arrangement into something more textured without complicating the choral line itself.

What to expect

Warm and celebratory, with a sense of playful ingenuity. The new melody floats above the hymn tune we know, creating an intimate moment that feels both timeless and contemporary, like discovering a secret harmony hidden in a carol everyone already loves.

Who it's for

Young school choirs (elementary through early middle school) looking for accessible Christmas repertoire with substance. The 2-part voicing makes it appropriate for singers with limited previous choral experience while the clever arrangement offers directors something musically satisfying to teach.

How to get the most out of it

Record a full rehearsal with the accompaniment track to hear how the partner song interlock. This helps singers internalize the relationship between the two melodies without having to sight-read against it live.
Keep the harmonies light and conversational rather than blended. Since this is a partner song, each voice part should maintain clarity so the audience can follow both melodies.
If you use optional bells, rehearse them separately first so they reinforce the new melody without overshadowing the singers.

How to use it

Pair this with a traditional "We Three Kings" arrangement to show young singers how composers reimagine familiar material. It works equally well as a concert opener or a mid-program breather, especially in programs that mix sacred and secular holiday music.