Nightfall: SSATB Choral Octavo

Name: Nightfall: SSATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-38288
Price: 1.85 USD
Availability: InStock

Words and music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-38288

$1.85

Shipped

One moment…

Experience the imagery of nightfall in this hauntingly beautiful contemporary choral work. Features rich harmonies and expressive music that complement the picturesque text.

Nightfall: SSATB 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.

No sample videos found.

Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081427584

SKU: 00-38288

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus. His career in music publishing gave him deep insight into the needs of educators; he spent eight years managing rights and licenses for a major educational publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.

Althouse has established himself as one of the most prolific choral composers working today, with more than 800 works in print across all choir levels. His compositions are performed regularly throughout the English-speaking world, and he has received multiple ASCAP Special Awards for his contributions to standard choral music. Beyond composing, he has co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, edited vocal solo collections, authored influential pedagogical resources like The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and created reproducible classroom materials. His choral work I Hear America Singing, written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Althouse crafts contemporary choral writing that never loses sight of singability. The rich harmonies in Nightfall create genuine emotional depth without requiring advanced vocal technique, making it accessible to intermediate choirs while remaining musically satisfying for stronger ensembles. The text painting and atmospheric quality give directors a piece that connects singers to meaningful imagery and audiences to a moment of genuine beauty.

What to expect

Nightfall unfolds like dusk settling over the landscape. The writing balances lyrical melody with intricate harmonic color, creating an atmosphere of contemplation and beauty. The piece draws listeners into its expressive world through carefully crafted vocal lines and the layered sonorities that make contemporary choral music compelling.

Who it's for

This octavo suits intermediate to advanced SATB choirs seeking contemporary secular repertoire with genuine musical substance. Directors programming concert works that honor both the singers' growing musicianship and audience engagement will find Nightfall a strong addition to the shelf.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the dynamics gradually across phrases to let the harmonies bloom; resist the urge to make dramatic shifts at every chord change.
Spend rehearsal time on blend within each voice part before balancing across the ensemble; cohesive sections create the haunting quality the music demands.
Mark breathing points together so the ensemble releases as one unit, preserving the continuity of the harmonic progressions.

How to use it

Program Nightfall in the second half of a concert where your audience is settled and attentive; its reflective character commands a quiet, focused room. It pairs well with other contemporary secular works or creates a strong closing moment for a mixed repertoire program exploring themes of nature or quiet introspection.