Still the Holiest Night: SATB Choral Octavo
Arr. Philip Kern
Item: 00-PO-0004630
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Phil Kern has skillfully weaved two cherished Christmas favorites ("Still, Still, Still" and "O Holy Night") into one of the finest seasonal works we've heard in years. This beautiful arrangement is destined to become a Christmas tradition in many choirs. Why not yours? For school or church choirs. Perfect for Christmas Eve services.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0004630
More about this title
About the Arranger: Philip Kern
Philip Kern is an arranger and composer with a distinctive gift for transforming familiar melodies into fresh choral works. His arrangements appear regularly in school and church choral libraries, where directors value his ability to honor the character of a tune while creating engaging, singable parts for mixed ensembles.
Why we love this
Kern's weaving of two beloved carols into a single seamless work shows genuine compositional craft. Most arrangements of this type feel stitched together; this one flows naturally from one melody to the next, giving your choir a showpiece that feels both familiar and fresh. At eight pages, it's substantial enough to matter on a Christmas program without demanding excessive rehearsal time from a busy holiday schedule.
What to expect
The piece carries the quiet reverence of "Still, Still, Still" alongside the soaring emotion of "O Holy Night," creating a reflection on the holy mystery of Christmas. The combination feels intimate and grand at once, inviting listeners into contemplation rather than celebration.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits school and church choirs of intermediate skill and above. SATB voicing assumes singers with secure part-reading abilities, though Kern's writing remains accessible enough that ensembles with mixed experience levels can succeed with focused rehearsal.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the dual-melody passages carefully so both "Still, Still, Still" and "O Holy Night" remain audible; neither tune should disappear into the harmonic texture.
- Shape the dynamics across the full arc rather than treating each section independently; a seamless crescendo and decrescendo across both melodies enhances the medley's unity.
- Approach the transition between the two carols as a moment of architectural clarity, not a jarring shift. Even if the key or tempo changes, let the emotional line guide singers through the seam.
How to use it
Anchor a Christmas Eve service or holiday concert with this medley as a closing moment. Its length and emotional weight make it ideal for the final choral selection of a program, allowing it to send the audience out with both peace and beauty.
Skills your students will build
- Singing two distinct melodic lines simultaneously in a partner song texture
- Navigating transitions between contrasting musical materials while maintaining continuity
- Balancing blend and balance when multiple familiar tunes share the same harmonic space
- Shaping long-phrase arcs across a medley structure