On a December Night Cover Image

On a December Night: SAB Choral Octavo

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On a December Night Cover Image
On a December Night: SAB Choral Octavo

On a December Night: SAB Choral Octavo

Words and music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-45703
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Description
This sparkling contemporary carol in 5/4 time is a fresh addition to any winter program! Features an evocative text that speaks to special sights, sounds, and feelings of the holidays. Choirs will find the harmonies both approachable and satisfying.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, On a December Night: SAB Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081514420
SKU: 00-45703

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 was later honored with the Distinguished Alumni award. His career spans both the publishing and composing worlds: he spent eight years managing rights and licenses for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, Althouse has placed more than 800 choral works in print across all performance levels, with his music heard regularly across English-speaking countries.

Althouse's contributions to music education extend well beyond composition. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his standard music compositions. He has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, edited influential vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and authored or co-authored practical classroom resources such as Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, and One-Page Composer Bios. His choral work I Hear America Singing, written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, Althouse serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

The 5/4 meter gives this carol a contemporary shimmer that cuts through the standard 4/4 repertory without asking for technical heroics. Althouse's harmonies land in that sweet spot where they feel fresh enough to interest singers but accessible enough that you're not spending rehearsals on fundamentals. The text captures specific sensory moments of the season rather than leaning on the expected platitudes.

What to expect

Sparkling and contemplative at once. The 5/4 meter creates a gentle, modern lilt that moves away from traditional carol rhythm, while the text grounds the music in concrete holiday imagery. Singers will feel the satisfaction of well-crafted harmonies that sit comfortably in the voice while still offering musical substance.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advancing SAB choirs looking for contemporary carols that sound polished without requiring extensive rehearsal time. Conductors programming winter concerts will find it suits both mixed voice ensembles and groups with limited tenor or bass numbers.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the 5/4 pulse early in rehearsals by tapping the beat while singers hum the main melodic idea. Once the meter feels natural, the harmonic layers will sit more confidently.
  • Balance the three parts so no single line disappears into the texture. SAB scoring often asks the middle voices to anchor rather than lead; listen for the alto line particularly during homophonic passages.
  • Layer the recorded accompaniment into a few full run-throughs before the performance to let singers adjust to the harmonic support and confirm their parts sit well with the instrumental voicing.

How to use it

Place this alongside more familiar holiday standards to signal a fresh take on the season without abandoning tradition entirely. Its contemporary character makes it an ideal pairing with newer secular carols or as an opening number that sets a modern tone for the full winter program.

Skills your students will build

  • Sight-reading and performing in 5/4 meter
  • Three-part SAB voice balance and blend
  • Phrasing and expressive singing with contemporary harmonic language
  • Ensemble listening and intonation in non-traditional time signatures

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