Hodie Fanfare: TTBB Choral Octavo
Music by Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0006922
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Changing meters of 10/8 and 6/8 are sure to grab your attention in this contemporary Christmas choral. Rhythmic four-part voices sing mostly in Latin (with occasional "joy to the world" interjections) and with various choral textures. Staggered "Glorias" kick it off with exuberance and joyfully return before the final flourish. It's an inspired surprise when the addition of a descant cleverly combines themes we've heard before. Invite a snare drum player to join (part included) to reinforce the triumphant tone.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006922
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over four decades as a composer, conductor, and clinician whose name appears on more than 600 published works. Since 1987, she has received annual recognition through the ASCAP Special Music Award, and her career includes leadership roles at major educational publishers where she directed school choral and vocal publications. Her conducting has taken her across the country to lead honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center.
Educated at Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), Albrecht brings both artistic depth and pedagogical expertise to her compositions. She served as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music and has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. 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. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht's gift for rhythmic sophistication without sacrificing ensemble cohesion shines here. The alternating meters of 10/8 and 6/8 create genuine rhythmic interest while remaining teachable to high school singers, and the descant that emerges near the end rewards careful listening and preparation in a way that feels genuinely rewarding rather than gimmicky.
What to expect
Joyful and propulsive, with a modern sensibility that avoids Christmas cliché through its rhythmic vitality and Latin foundation. The piece captures celebration not through saccharine harmony but through driving meters and cunningly layered voices that build toward moments of real impact.
Who it's for
TTBB ensembles seeking contemporary Christmas repertoire with genuine musical substance and rhythmic teeth. This works equally well for college, adult, and advanced high school choirs comfortable with meter changes and Latin text.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the 10/8 meter early through sectional work; have basses and tenors lock the downbeat pattern independently before adding upper voices, then gradually layer in the rhythmic complexity.
- The staggered Gloria entries need precise cutoff discipline to maintain the exuberant character without sounding sloppy; mark these moments clearly in rehearsal and conduct them with visible intent.
- If you use the included snare drum part, rehearse the drummer separately to match the choral phrasing rather than playing mechanically; the percussion should breathe with the singers.
- Balance the Latin text with the English interjections so both feel equally at home; this contrast actually clarifies the rhythmic structure if handled with intentional dynamic shaping.
How to use it
Program this as the finale of a Christmas concert or the opening number of a secular winter celebration to energize an audience immediately. Its contemporary style and rhythmic sophistication make it an excellent contrast to more traditional carols in a varied concert sequence.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and maintaining alternating meters (10/8 and 6/8) within a single piece
- Balancing independent rhythmic lines while singing in four-part harmony
- Coordinating vocal entrances and cutoffs with precision across multiple voices
- Latin diction and text clarity in a rhythmically complex setting
- Blending and balancing a descant against existing harmonic material