Looking for the Light Sheet Music Preview

Looking for the Light: SAB Choral Octavo

(A Song of Winter)

Words by Jerry Colker, music and additional words by Adam Podd and Matt Podd

Item: 00-PO-0005990

Digital Download
$2.20

Minimum order quantity: 20 copies

Description
The shimmering winter-themed text and lilting 6/8 rhythms dance right off the page in this contemporary choral like none other. Accessible yet unexpected harmonies provide warmth, and a full dynamic range takes us on a journey from a single voice to full ensemble singing. The breathtaking add-on section weaves three independent lines into one radiant tapestry of sound and suggests that the light we search for may be found within.

Looking for the Light: SAB 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.

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
SKU: 00-PO-0005990

More about this title

About the Composer: Matt Podd

Matt Podd

Matt Podd brings versatility across jazz, gospel, pop, musical theatre, and choral idioms to everything he writes. Based in New York City, he has served as pianist, arranger, and orchestrator for artists ranging from Barbra Streisand to the Boston Pops, with his work performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the White House, and on national television. His formal training at the Eastman School of Music and Ithaca College grounds his facility across multiple genres.

Matt frequently collaborates with his twin brother Adam on compositional and arranging projects, including their band Mimi & the Podd Brothers. This partnership reflects a creative philosophy centered on accessibility without sacrificing musical sophistication, evident in works written for choral ensembles at every level.

Why we love this

The arc from solo voice to full ensemble singing gives your singers genuine ownership of the piece's emotional trajectory, while the accessible yet unconventional harmonies keep musicians engaged rather than lulled into autopilot. Winter programs need freshness, and this piece delivers contemporary writing that feels genuine rather than manufactured.

What to expect

The piece shimmers with introspection and gentle movement, its 6/8 rhythms creating a floating quality that feels both modern and organic. By the add-on section, the independent lines interweave into something luminous, suggesting discovery rather than spectacle.

Who it's for

SAB choirs seeking contemporary repertoire that respects their skill level without talking down to them. This works equally well for high school mixed choirs and community ensembles that want winter concert material with musical substance and textual warmth.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening solo entry with attention to the text's imagery; resist the urge to rush through the reflective opening section, letting the 6/8 lilt emerge naturally from careful phrasing rather than tempo.
  • Balance the three independent lines in the add-on section by having voices listen actively to their neighbors; this becomes easier when each part owns its melodic contour before full ensemble integration.
  • Use the dynamic arc as your rehearsal map; mark where your choir transitions from intimate to radiant and build both volume and ensemble unity gradually across that journey.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a winter thematic set, or use it to close a concert where its layered texture and message of finding light within can land with full impact. Its moderate length (16 pages) and straightforward voicing make it viable even in condensed rehearsal schedules.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing in 6/8 meter with rhythmic fluency and lyrical phrasing
  • Balancing independent melodic lines while maintaining ensemble cohesion
  • Managing dynamic contrast from solo to full ensemble
  • Interpreting contemporary harmonic language with confidence
  • Listening and blending in multi-part textures

You May Also Like