In My Dream: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0001856
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This highly imaginative gem feels as though it comes from the pages of a classic storybook. We're off on a fantastical adventure, including a magic carpet, a grand kingdom, and a crystal sea. Just before the end, an unexpected modulation takes us further on the journey, to a place where dreams come true.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001856
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck oversees choral publications at Alfred Music, where he has built a catalog of over 450 choral works, arrangements, and musical theatre pieces. His prolific output spans secular and sacred repertoire at all levels, from accessible 2-part arrangements to sophisticated mixed-voice settings. Beck earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Master's degree in Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University, grounding his compositional voice in strong pedagogical principles.
Beyond the page, Beck remains active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for honor choirs and all-state groups throughout the Southeast and beyond. He performs regularly as a tenor vocalist and has directed musical theatre productions, bringing a performer's sensibility to every piece he writes. His work appears in choral programs across the United States and internationally, a testament to music educators' trust in his ability to craft pieces that engage singers and audiences alike.
Why we love this
Beck's gift for narrative clarity shines here: he takes singers on an actual journey with vivid scenes (magic carpet, crystal sea) that sustain interest through a 12-page piece without relying on text repetition. The modulation near the end is architecturally sound, not decorative, giving the piece genuine forward momentum and a sense of arrival. For directors programming middle school or early high school choirs, this is concert and contest material that feels fresh rather than formulaic.
What to expect
You step into a musical fairy tale where each phrase unfolds like a new scene in a picture book. The melody is buoyant and singable, drawing listeners into adventure without overwhelming them. When the harmonic landscape shifts near the close, the familiar world opens into something larger and more magical, leaving both singers and audience with a sense of wonder.
Who it's for
This piece is ideal for developing 2-part choirs in grades 5 through 8 and emerging high school ensembles seeking concert and festival repertoire with literary appeal. Singers at this level gain confidence from music that tells a coherent story, and the harmonic language is accessible without being simplistic.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening phrases to establish the storybook mood early; gentle dynamics and clear vowels help listeners enter the imaginative world Beck creates
- Prepare the modulation as a genuine harmonic event by discussing the key change with your singers beforehand so they hear it as an expansion of the journey rather than a technical surprise
- Balance the two parts throughout so neither voice dominates; this clarity preserves the narrative quality and makes the accompaniment's role more effective
How to use it
Program this early in a concert or festival set to establish an imaginative tone for what follows, or use it as a standalone feature piece that engages younger audiences and mixed-age family events. Its narrative arc and concert-quality writing make it equally suitable for adjudicated festival use, where it will showcase both ensemble development and musical maturity.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained legato phrasing over 4-8 bar phrases
- Accurate part independence in simple 2-part writing
- Recognition and execution of a key modulation
- Dynamic shaping to support narrative structure
- Diction clarity in English text