The Best Gift of All: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0004293
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
"It's the love that you give, the way that you live, yes, the best gift of all comes from the heart." A tender and heartfelt seasonal sentiment from the songwriting team of Sally Albrecht and Jay Althouse. Beautifully simple, yet musically rich, it's a thoughtful message for December concerts. Available in three voicings for any age choir with an optional SoundTrax CD.
The Best Gift of All: 2-Part 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
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0004293
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has built a distinctive career as a choral composer and clinician with a particular gift for movement-integrated choral writing. Since 1987, she has been a consistent recipient of the ASCAP Special Music Award, and her catalog now includes over 600 choral publications alongside 75 musicals and larger songbooks. She has led honor choirs at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and spent more than thirty years directing school choral and vocal publications for major educational publishers, including Alfred Music.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), and has taught at Oakland University in Michigan, Jersey City State College in New Jersey, and Meredith College in North Carolina. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she now serves on the Board of Trustees. She lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
This piece balances accessibility with emotional depth. The text carries genuine substance about generosity and authentic giving, lifting it well above typical holiday fare. Two-part voicing makes it viable for younger singers or mixed ensembles with limited soprano/alto separation, yet the harmonic language and phrasing feel mature and intentional.
What to expect
Tender and sincere without sentimentality. The melody sits naturally in the voice and carries a gentle dignity, while the harmonic support creates warmth and depth. There's quiet strength in this piece, rooted in a clear message about what truly matters during the season.
Who it's for
This piece works beautifully for any choir program seeking authentic holiday material for mixed-age ensembles. Simpler voicing makes it accessible to middle school, high school, and adult community choirs, while the songwriting quality engages mature singers. It's equally at home in a December concert or as a graduation benediction reflecting on meaningful gifts.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melodic line with clear phrase breathing; the simplicity of the vocal writing demands careful attention to musical phrasing and dynamic contour to avoid sounding stiff.
- Balance the parts carefully so the second part supports the melody without overwhelming it, especially in sections where both parts move simultaneously.
- Let the recorded accompaniment (available separately) set a warm, unhurried tempo; resist the urge to rush through this tender message.
- Encourage singers to connect emotionally with the lyrical content about heartfelt giving; conviction in tone quality will carry the piece far more than technical perfection.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece in your December concert, perhaps flanked by more spirited or energetic selections to create programming contrast. It also serves beautifully as a closing benediction for end-of-year concerts, celebrations, or graduation ceremonies. The tender, reflective quality makes it a graceful transition piece between concert sections.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining lyrical melody lines with consistent breath support and vibrato control
- Balancing two-part harmony where both parts carry equal musical weight
- Phrasing and dynamic shaping in simple, diatonic music
- Connecting emotional meaning to vocal performance and tone quality
- Ensemble blend and blend shift between melody and supporting harmony