Jasmine Flower: SSA Choral Octavo
Chinese Folk Song, English words by Charlotte Lee / arr. Douglas E. Wagner
Item: 00-PO-0003235
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
With likely origins in the southern China provinces, the soothing pentatonic melody of this traditional folk song is reminiscent of the simple beauty of a white jasmine blossom. This lovely choral setting, layered with independent voice lines, is effective with the shimmering piano accompaniment or the optional string orchestra parts.
Jasmine Flower: SSA Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003235
Instrumentation:
Opt. String Orchestra
More about this title
About the Arranger: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas E. Wagner grew up in Chicago and earned degrees in music from Butler University before spending three decades in the classroom as a high school music educator and administrator. Since transitioning to full-time composition in the 1970s, he has become one of the most prolific writers in music education, with more than 3,500 published works spanning choir, band, orchestra, handbell ensemble, organ, and solo voice.
Wagner's output has reached millions of performers worldwide. His music appears regularly in concert halls, school performances, and broadcasts across the United States and internationally. He currently lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Sandy.
Why we love this
Wagner has shaped the pentatonic melody into something that breathes naturally across three independent voice lines, avoiding the monotony that can plague simple folk song settings. The optional string parts lift this beyond a piano-only piece, giving you flexibility to match your concert resources while the writing remains elegant and accessible for mid-level singers.
What to expect
The piece evokes the quiet beauty of a single white flower, with each voice line contributing a gentle, interweaving quality that never feels cluttered or dense. The pentatonic framework creates an unhurried, almost meditative space where simplicity becomes sophistication. Paired with the shimmering piano accompaniment (or optional strings), the overall effect is one of elegance and calm reflection.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits choirs with developing singers who are ready to handle independent voice lines but still benefit from melody-driven material. Middle school and early high school SSA choirs will find the pentatonic melody instantly singersingable while the layered voicing teaches harmonic awareness without overwhelming the ensemble.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the meditative quality of the pentatonic melody by keeping the tempo unhurried and the dynamic level restrained; resist the temptation to push energy into what is fundamentally a contemplative piece.
- Balance the independent voice lines so that no single part dominates; this layered texture only works if each voice layer is audible and singing with intention.
- If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse with it early to establish the gentle pulse and harmonic color, then ensure your singers are not simply following the recording but singing with independent musical awareness.
- When adding string orchestra parts, use rehearsals to blend instrumental and vocal timbres so the strings feel like they're emerging from the choir's sound rather than playing alongside it.
How to use it
This works beautifully in a spring concert or any program built around nature themes, world cultures, or moments of stillness. Use it to showcase your SSA singers' ability to blend and balance while keeping the audience in a reflective mindset; pair it with other folk-inspired pieces or contrast it with something more energetic to create program flow.
Skills your students will build
- Singing independent voice lines with awareness of harmonic function
- Sustaining focused tone in sustained passages
- Blending three distinct parts while maintaining individual line clarity
- Reading and interpreting pentatonic melodies
- Responding to gentle, character-driven conducting and dynamic nuance