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Now Is the Time of Christmas: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$24.99 USD
$24.99 USD
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Now Is the Time of Christmas Cover Image
Now Is the Time of Christmas: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Now Is the Time of Christmas: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Words by Jay Althouse, based on a 16th century English carol, music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-A-00015226
$24.99
Digital Download

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00015226

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. His background includes eight years as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher, during which he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, he has created over 800 choral works performed widely across the English-speaking world and maintains membership in ASCAP, where he is a regular recipient of the Special Award for his compositions.

Beyond his prolific output as a composer, Althouse has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on several children's musicals and co-written influential resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. He has compiled vocal solo collections, authored reproducible classroom materials on music reading and composer study, and served on the boards of the North Carolina Master Chorale and the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America. His work as a writer and educator has shaped choral music instruction and performance across multiple generations of singers.

Why we love this

Althouse brings a secular Christmas sensibility to repertoire that still feels celebratory and fresh. The recorded accompaniment eliminates barriers for programs without full instrumental support, letting smaller choirs and those in resource-limited settings access quality holiday material without compromise.

What to expect

The piece captures the anticipation and generosity at the heart of Christmas celebration without leaning on sacred tradition. Straightforward melodic lines invite singers to concentrate on clear communication and ensemble blend rather than technical display.

Who it's for

This arrangement suits any choir seeking holiday music that avoids religious doctrine while maintaining warmth and accessibility. Programs ranging from elementary through adult community choirs will find the part-writing and message appropriate for their singers and audiences.

How to get the most out of it

  • Allow the recorded accompaniment to establish the harmonic foundation clearly before the choir enters. This helps singers lock into the harmonic language without depending on live instrumental cues.
  • Balance the choir's dynamic range against the recording by rehearsing sections both with and without the accompaniment so singers develop independence from the track.
  • Adjust microphone placement or rehearsal space acoustics if the recording dominates the choir's sound during dress rehearsal. Test the setup early enough to make adjustments.
  • Engage singers in the lyrical content by working through the text's meaning in detail before focusing on technical elements. This grounds their interpretation in genuine communication rather than matching the recording's phrasing mechanically.

How to use it

Pair this with a mix of traditional carols and other secular holiday selections to create a balanced holiday concert that welcomes diverse audience members. It works equally well as a standalone number or as part of a longer seasonal medley.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with clear vowel shapes in a recorded accompaniment context
  • Maintaining ensemble blend while performing to a pre-recorded track
  • Interpreting lyrical content and emotional intent in secular holiday music
  • Responding to dynamic and tempo cues established by an external audio source

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