Solitary Snowflake: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Jerry Estes
Item: 00-PO-0002065
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
An expressive choral work celebrating the snowflake...its unique qualities, its ability to transform our world "to one of dazzling white." A useful, secular work for the winter and holiday season. Meaningful text: "Dreams are for the taking, wings come to those who fly. Miracles are for the making, winners are those who try."
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0002065
More about this title
About the Composer: Jerry Estes
Jerry Estes brings classroom experience directly into his compositions. A vocal music educator at Wydown Middle School, he teaches grades 6-8 and holds degrees from Southwest Baptist University (B.M.E. in vocal emphasis) and Southern Illinois University (M.M.), grounding his understanding of what works for young singers in real rehearsal spaces.
Why we love this
Estes writes text that actually resonates with young singers instead of talking down to them. The metaphor of the snowflake as a symbol of individual potential and effort feels earned here, and the melodic writing sits comfortably in the 2-part range while avoiding the saccharine tone that can plague holiday choral music. This piece respects both the season and your singers' growing musicality.
What to expect
The piece carries a sense of wonder and quiet determination, avoiding the theatrical grandeur of many holiday works in favor of something more reflective. You'll find moments of real warmth in the harmony, especially when the text turns toward themes of effort and transformation.
Who it's for
Middle school and early high school choirs looking for a secular winter piece with genuine substance. This works equally well for groups preparing for winter concerts or festival competitions, as the expressive writing and accessible voicing support both contexts.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the two parts so neither voice feels subordinate; the independence of each line matters as much as the unified effect, which mirrors the piece's central metaphor about individual qualities contributing to a whole.
- Shape the text with deliberate phrasing around the main message ("Dreams are for the taking, wings come to those who fly"), allowing singers to own the meaning rather than rushing through the lyrical content.
- Use the eight pages to establish vocal maturity in your group; this length gives room for development without overextending young singers' focus or stamina.
How to use it
Slot this into a winter or holiday concert as a thoughtful centerpiece that shifts the tone away from pure celebration toward inspiration and hope. Its secular, universal text makes it equally at home in a festival program, where it can demonstrate your choir's ability to handle meaningful material with nuance.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and sustaining independent 2-part voicing
- Text expression and phrasing aligned with lyrical meaning
- Blend and balance in divisi passages
- Emotional maturity in interpreting secular choral literature