The Little Drummer Boy Cover Image

The Little Drummer Boy: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

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The Little Drummer Boy Cover Image
The Little Drummer Boy: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

The Little Drummer Boy: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Arr. Jay Althouse

Level: Moderate

Item: 00-CH9657
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Description
The classic K.K. Davis song combined with the arranging talents of Jay Althouse has created a fresh new edition of this long-time favorite. Simple, yet elegant could describe the approach that Jay has taken with this new arrangement, and it will surely be the new standard in settings of this great holiday song. A must for every choir!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Little Drummer Boy: 3-Part Mixed 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 Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 029156211405
SKU: 00-CH9657

More about this title

About the Arranger: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he received the Distinguished Alumni award. His career spans composition, publishing administration, and music education; he served eight years as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher and held a position on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.

With over 800 choral compositions in print, Althouse's work reaches choirs worldwide and has earned him recognition as a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond composing, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, authored instructional classroom resources, and contributed to major choral publications. His co-written work "I Hear America Singing" was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Based in North Carolina, Althouse serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

Althouse strips away the complex arranging flourishes that often weigh down holiday standards and builds something genuinely elegant instead. This SAB setting respects the carol's intimate melody while giving each voice line substance and independence, making it accessible for Grade 3 choirs without sacrificing musicality or emotional depth.

What to expect

Serene and contemplative, this version of the Drummer Boy story unfolds with quiet dignity. The arrangement respects the carol's spiritual core, allowing the melody to shine through warm, simple harmonic support that feels timeless rather than trendy.

Who it's for

This arrangement works beautifully for intermediate mixed choirs seeking a holiday piece that avoids saccharine excess. Grade 3 singers can execute it cleanly while still engaging musically, making it ideal for concert programming, community performances, or school holiday celebrations.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the melody line in the soprano section so it breathes naturally; the simplicity of the arrangement means clear text delivery and pure tone quality become your interpretive tools.
  • Work the alto and bass parts as harmonic anchors first, then layer in the soprano melody. This prevents the arrangement from sounding hollow and helps singers hear their relationship to the overall sound.
  • Let the recorded accompaniment set a gentle, reverent tempo; resist the urge to rush through phrases even when the harmonic rhythm feels straightforward.

How to use it

Program this as the emotional centerpiece of a Christmas concert, pairing it with an energetic secular holiday piece to create programming balance. Its moderate difficulty and 12-page length make it a practical choice for rehearsal schedules that don't allow extensive preparation time.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing in three-part mixed voicing (SAB)
  • Maintaining consistent intonation across sustained harmonic passages
  • Blend and balance within an SA voicing section over moving bass parts
  • Text clarity and expressive phrasing in sacred choral literature
  • Reading a choral octavo format with multiple staves

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