O Come, Little Children: SATB Choral Octavo
Arr. Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0004339
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
An unexpected treatment of a cherished Christmas carol, this African inspired arrangement includes new school-appropriate lyrics and an original recurring refrain. Bright harmonies and buoyant rhythmic patterns that work so well together, they practically sing themselves. Prepare a children's choir or soloist as the "small group," add authentic rhythm instruments, or incorporate the optional SoundTrax CD for a holiday highlight.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0004339
More about this title
About the Arranger: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has spent his career creating resources that sing in real rehearsals. With over 450 choral works, vocal resources, and children's musicals in print, he understands what works on the page and what works in the room. His teaching materials, including Sing at First Sight and Vocalize!, have shaped how singers across North America approach technique and literacy.
Beyond the page, Beck conducts honor choirs, adjudicates festivals throughout the Southeast, and performs as a tenor with the North Carolina Master Chorale. His graduate training in music education at Northwest Missouri State University and undergraduate degree from Ithaca College anchor his philosophy that choral writing must serve both the music and the musician. Since 1992, he has also been a studio singer for Alfred Music, giving him insight into how arrangements sound when performed by skilled voices.
Why we love this
Beck's arrangement honors the original tune while making it fresh enough to surprise even singers who think they know this carol inside out. The African-inspired rhythmic vitality and school-appropriate text give you a piece that feels contemporary without abandoning reverence, and the optional recurring refrain gives your ensemble a memorable moment to shine.
What to expect
Warm and energized. The African-inspired rhythmic patterns create forward momentum while bright harmonies keep the piece buoyant rather than heavy. There's joy in the movement and accessibility in the melody, making this feel like a carol people want to sing rather than feel obligated to perform.
Who it's for
Directors programming a Christmas concert need an SATB option that engages both experienced singers and developing ensembles. This works beautifully with a children's choir featured section, a small vocal ensemble, or as an all-hands celebration piece that incorporates optional rhythm instruments for added color.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the rhythmic patterns establish themselves early in rehearsal before layering harmonic complexity. These syncopated figures will feel effortless only after your singers internalize them.
- If you're using rhythm instruments or the optional accompaniment, establish those grooves in isolation first so your SATB parts sit on top of a secure foundation rather than competing with it.
- Shape the dynamics across the original melody line to keep it singing through the harmonic texture. This arrangement rewards singers who listen vertically, not just horizontally.
How to use it
This arrangement sits comfortably in a holiday concert alongside traditional carols because it respects the tune but transforms it enough to be a genuine highlight. Use it as a finale that brings your full ensemble together, or position it as the bridge between sacred and celebratory repertoire. The optional SoundTrax accompaniment lets you shape the piece flexibly, whether you want instrumental support in rehearsal or a full backing track for performance.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing syncopated rhythmic patterns in SATB texture
- Blending harmonies while maintaining lyrical independence within a non-traditional arrangement
- Responding to rhythmic accompaniment and maintaining ensemble cohesion with percussion or recorded tracks
- Interpreting style-specific articulation and dynamics in contemporary choral writing