Spellbound: SSAA Choral Octavo
Words and music by David Lantz III
Item: 00-PO-0006657
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
Winter programming at its finest! A rare find for four-part mixed or treble choirs. This original poetic text recounts the sheer beauty of snowflakes floating to earth in a winter paradise. A gently lilting tempo, the ebb and flow of a graceful melody, and some closely spaced cluster chords create an artistic soundscape that will challenge and engage even the most accomplished choristers. Outstanding performances are the result of outstanding rehearsals, and this piece contains the depth for both. "Nature, not to be outdone, leaves one and all . . . spellbound."
Spellbound: SSAA Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006657
More about this title
About the Composer: David Lantz
David Lantz has established himself as a composer whose work spans choral, instrumental, and educational contexts. His compositions consistently demonstrate a gift for setting text with musical sensitivity while creating engaging challenges for performers at various levels.
Why we love this
Lantz captures winter's quiet magic without resorting to obvious musical clichés. The cluster chords and carefully shaped melodic contours reward rehearsal time with genuinely beautiful sonority, and the piece works equally well for advancing treble choirs or experienced mixed ensembles seeking something poetic and substantive.
What to expect
Serene and contemplative, with an almost suspended quality as chords shift beneath a gentle melodic line. The beauty emerges not from drama but from stillness, creating a musical landscape where individual voices blend into something shimmering and whole.
Who it's for
Directors of SSA, SSAA, or mixed choirs with singers who can sustain independent lines and navigate chromatic harmony. This piece rewards groups with rehearsal depth and will showcase an ensemble's technical growth and artistic maturity.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the cluster chords by having singers mark which note is their primary responsibility within each vertical sonority, then practice sustaining through the shifting harmonies without drifting.
- Shape the lilting tempo as an organic breath rather than a mechanical pulse; let the graceful melodic line guide the pacing and allow slight rubato within each phrase.
- Layer the dynamic arc gradually across full sections rather than jumping between levels; this reinforces the floating, floating quality of snowflakes and maintains ensemble blend through the closely voiced texture.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece of a winter concert or festival set, where its reflective character can breathe without competing with more energetic repertoire. It pairs well alongside carols or other seasonal pieces but strong enough to stand alone as a concert highlight.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and balancing cluster chords with shifting harmonic centers
- Sustaining independent lines within closely spaced voicings
- Shaping graceful melody with appropriate rubato and phrasing
- Blending treble voices to achieve unified sonority across register