Sing for Joy This Festive Day!: SSAB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Name: Sing for Joy This Festive Day!: SSAB, a cappella Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-19214
Price: 1.50 USD
Availability: InStock

A Fanfare for Christmas or General Use

Music by Sally K. Albrecht

Item: 00-19214

$1.50

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Two texts, one general and the other for Christmas, make this joyous work ideal for year round concerts, festivals, and adjudications. The open 5ths introduced by the treble voices are echoed by the men, evoking a majestic aura. Well-scored and easy to learn, it could also be used as a concert processional. An optional descant drives the work to a powerful finish. A dynamic choral statement by Sally Albrecht.

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081178592

SKU: 00-19214

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has shaped choral music education for over three decades, serving as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at major educational publishers, including her long tenure at Alfred Music. A prolific composer with more than 600 choral works and 75 larger musicals and songbooks in circulation, she has been recognized annually by ASCAP with Special Music Awards since 1987. Her reputation extends to the podium: she has conducted honor choirs at festivals nationwide, including prestigious venues like Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center.

Albrecht earned her B.A. in Music and Theater from Rollins College (Florida) in 1976, then pursued advanced study at the University of Miami, completing an M.A. in Drama (1977) and an M.M. in Accompanying (1979). A native of Cleveland, she has taught at Oakland University (Michigan), Jersey City State College (New Jersey), and Meredith College (North Carolina). Her leadership extends beyond composition: she chaired the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and received their Pillar of Leadership award. In 2021, both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College honored her with Distinguished Alumna Awards. She resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.

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Why we love this

The dual-text approach makes this piece genuinely versatile: program it for Christmas with one text, then rotate the general festive version for spring concerts, festivals, and adjudications without needing two separate octavos. Albrecht's scoring is transparent and well-balanced, allowing SSAB choirs to sound full without wrestling with complex voice leading, yet the optional descant provides enough musical substance that advanced groups will find it rewarding.

What to expect

Majestic and open, with the architecture of the piece built on space and resonance rather than density. The interplay between treble and lower voices creates an antiphonal quality that feels both timeless and celebratory, while the optional descant lifts the final statements into something genuinely transcendent.

Who it's for

SSAB choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who need a single piece that serves multiple programming purposes throughout the year. Directors working with mixed choirs of roughly equal treble and lower voice strength will find this particularly well-suited.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the open 5ths in the treble section with clear, sustained tone before the men echo them. This architectural element carries the entire harmonic foundation, so lock it in early in rehearsal.
The optional descant works best when soloists or a small group of your strongest singers float above the full choir. Resist the urge to have everyone sing it.
Since this works as a processional, consider staging: walk the singers in during the opening pages, with treble voices leading and men following to mirror the musical architecture.
Keep the tempo steady and forward-moving. The piece gains power from momentum, especially in the final section where the descant drives toward the finish.

How to use it

This octavo earns its place as a festive concert opener or closer, its processional potential making it ideal for formal concert openings or seasonal worship services. The dual texts mean you can program it in December holiday concerts, then recycle it for spring peace or general celebration programs, maximizing your investment in learning and polishing a single strong piece.