On a December Night: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0005574
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005574
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse studied music education and music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received 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 a term on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.
As a composer, Althouse has written more than 800 choral works performed internationally across choirs of every level. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond composition, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections, authored several books including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and contributed writing to the Folk Art Messenger. He resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse crafts melodies that feel both accessible and artfully shaped. The 5/4 meter sets this piece apart from the typical carol repertoire without becoming an obstacle; singers discover the rhythmic framework feels natural once they settle into it, making it rewarding enough to revisit year after year.
What to expect
There's a crystalline quality to this carol, like looking at winter scenes through clear, cold air. The 5/4 meter gives it a gently unexpected rhythm that feels modern without losing the warmth of the holiday season, while the text evokes concrete sensory details that bring the season to vivid life.
Who it's for
This octavo serves choirs ranging from high school through community ensembles who want contemporary material that moves beyond traditional harmonic language. Directors seeking a carol that challenges singers melodically and rhythmically without requiring advanced vocal technique will find this piece ideal for winter concerts.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the 5/4 pulse early in rehearsals by having singers count aloud during the first few run-throughs. This meter becomes intuitive once the ensemble locks in together.
- Balance the text work with rhythmic precision. The carol's emotional impact comes from both the lyrical quality and the crisp articulation of the contemporary harmonic language.
- If using the recorded accompaniment, allow singers to hear it once or twice without singing, then sing along while following the score to build confidence in their parts.
How to use it
Program this as a mid-set piece in a winter concert, positioned after more familiar carols to gently shift the audience's ear toward contemporary writing. Its moderate length and sparkling character make it equally suited to holiday services, school assemblies, or community performances where a fresh take on seasonal music adds distinction.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and internalizing rhythms in 5/4 time
- Singing contemporary harmonic language with confidence
- Blending two-part voicing while maintaining individual line independence
- Connecting text to musical expression