How Far Is It to Bethlehem?: Score: Choral SoundPax
Arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PR-0000615
$8.00
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Description
Includes parts for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and percussion.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, How Far Is It to Bethlehem?: Score: Choral SoundPax comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
10
SKU:
00-PR-0000615
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes has composed and arranged over 1,750 published works across concert, choral, theatrical, and educational settings. A summa cum laude graduate in Piano Performance from Baylor University (1975), Hayes has guest conducted at Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall, premiering major works including his Requiem at Lincoln Center in 2013 and at St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome as part of a Vatican-sponsored festival in 2014.
Beyond his prolific output in sacred and secular choral music, Hayes maintains a distinctive focus on piano composition, with more than 100 piano books in print spanning gospel, classical, jazz, and musical theater styles. His versatility extends to orchestration and record production; he also composed the score for Civil War Voices, which garnered six awards at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City. Baylor University honored him in 2010 with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music.
Why we love this
Hayes brings his gift for accessible, singable choral writing to this beloved Christmas carol, crafting an arrangement that honors the text's contemplative quality while remaining practical for most high school and adult choirs. The instrumental accompaniment (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and percussion) enriches the texture without overwhelming the vocal writing, and the SoundPax format gives your singers a secure foundation in rehearsal and performance.
What to expect
Gentle and reverent, with the straightforward melody anchored by warm harmonic movement. Hayes's arrangement respects the carol's introspective quality while the instrumental colors (particularly the woodwind blend) create a hushed, almost meditative atmosphere that deepens the spiritual content of the text.
Who it's for
High school and adult choirs preparing Christmas concerts and holiday services. The SoundPax format suits both traditional church settings and concert contexts, making it flexible for directors who want professional instrumental support without maintaining a live accompanist or ensemble.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the instrumental parts so they support rather than compete with the choir; the recorded accompaniment can guide your approach during early rehearsals.
- Let the text drive your phrasing. This carol's simple, direct melody paired with Hayes's harmonic language works best when singers connect emotionally to the narrative.
- Use the separate instrumental parts to adjust the density of accompaniment for different performance spaces; smaller venues may work well with a reduced instrumental group.
How to use it
Position this in the quieter, more reflective section of your Christmas concert, perhaps after more energetic carols. It works beautifully as a bridge between festive opening pieces and closing meditative selections, and the SoundPax format makes it ideal for both full-length concerts and shorter church music services.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing vocal parts against instrumental accompaniment
- Sustaining long phrases with consistent tone and breath support
- Interpreting text with emotional nuance in a sacred context
- Responding to harmonic movement in contemporary choral arranging