Slow Dancing in the Snow Cover Image

Slow Dancing in the Snow: SATB Choral Octavo

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Slow Dancing in the Snow Cover Image
Slow Dancing in the Snow: SATB Choral Octavo

Slow Dancing in the Snow: SATB Choral Octavo

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-5798
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Description
It's back to the 50's with this slow rock ballad that's perfect for your winter concerts. It's not a Christmas piece, so it's suitable for any secular winter-time concert. Jay Althouse cleverly mixes memories of summer ("The soft summer breeze. the sway of the trees") with images of winter for an absolutely unforgetable musical treat. "So let it snow till Valentine's Day..." and we'll for Slow Dancing in the Snow.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Slow Dancing in the Snow: SATB 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 Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 8
UPC: 038081016634
SKU: 00-5798

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 recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus. He spent eight years managing rights and licensing for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that tenure.

With over 800 choral works in print, Althouse's compositions are performed regularly across English-speaking countries. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a consistent recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond composing, he has co-authored children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections, and written widely used classroom resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. Most notably, he and Albrecht co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration.

Why we love this

Althouse crafts a genuinely clever conceit here: contrasting summer warmth with winter snow gives the piece emotional depth rather than relying on holiday clichés. The 50s rock ballad idiom sits comfortably in most choirs' wheelhouse while the juxtaposition of seasons keeps it fresh, making this a smart choice for programs seeking winter repertoire that doesn't default to carols.

What to expect

A wistful pause in time. The piece conjures nostalgic Americana through its 50s sensibility while the interplay of summer memory and winter present creates an ache that's romantic without being saccharine. It settles into the minor-key melancholy of slow rock ballads, intimate and reflective.

Who it's for

Choirs seeking a secular winter selection that transcends December programming. Directors working with intermediate to advanced ensembles who can handle the stylistic demands of a slow rock ballad and appreciate text-driven arrangement.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the text painting around those summer images early in the piece; let the contrast with winter snow imagery land deliberately rather than rushing through both.
  • The recorded accompaniment captures the slow rock groove, so use it in rehearsals to establish the rhythmic pocket before drilling balance and blend.
  • Staging suggestions are included, but consider whether movement enhances your performance space or distracts; sometimes the emotional restraint of stillness against the nostalgic text works best.
  • Blend the SATB voicing carefully during the refrain; this style rewards cohesion across parts more than dramatic voice independence.

How to use it

Place this as an emotional anchor in a winter or January concert, perhaps framed between more upbeat selections to give the audience a moment of reflection. The Valentine's Day reference in the text makes it apt for winter-into-spring programming arcs.

Skills your students will build

  • Phrasing and text interpretation in a 50s rock ballad idiom
  • Blending a lyrical SATB texture at slower tempos
  • Coordinating movement and staging with vocal production
  • Understanding how lyrical contrast (summer versus winter imagery) shapes musical expression

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