The Snow Begins to Fall Cover Image

The Snow Begins to Fall: SSA Choral Octavo

$1.75 USD
$1.75 USD
Skip to product information
The Snow Begins to Fall Cover Image
The Snow Begins to Fall: SSA Choral Octavo

The Snow Begins to Fall: SSA Choral Octavo

Words and music by Andy Beck

Item: 00-28718
makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$1.75
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

The Snow Begins to Fall: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.05
View

The Snow Begins to Fall: SAB Choral Octavo

$2.25
View

The Snow Begins to Fall: SSA Choral Octavo

$1.75
View
Description
You can't miss the vivid text painting as the floating vocal parts layer one upon another in the rich sequential refrain. You can almost feel the chill of a winter wind as the haunting opening theme is combined with a chromatically descending counter melody. It's classic choral writing with a contemporary flair. Logical, comfortable singing in all four voicings makes it easy for your choir to sing a sophisticated, secular choral work this winter.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Snow Begins to Fall: SSA Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081312620
SKU: 00-28718

More about this title

About the Composer: Andy Beck

Andy Beck

Andy Beck leads the choral publications department at Alfred Music, where he shapes the catalog while maintaining an active composing and arranging practice. His output spans over 450 published works, from secular chorales to children's musicals, and he has authored influential vocal resources including Sing at First Sight and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. His compositions reach singers across the globe, a fact evidenced by the steady stream of performances shared online.

Beyond the page, Beck works as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, collaborating with honor choirs and all-state groups throughout the Southeast. He holds degrees in music education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, sings as a tenor with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir, and has contributed vocals to Alfred's studio sessions since 1992. His dual expertise in pedagogy and artistry informs every publication he develops.

Why we love this

This piece delivers the sophisticated text painting directors expect from contemporary choral writing without asking singers to navigate awkward ranges or confusing part relationships. The combination of haunting chromatic writing and accessible voicing means your SSA singers will sound polished while learning something genuine about harmonic color and sequential development.

What to expect

Snowflakes drifting and accumulating, each voice a separate element that catches light before melting into the whole. The chromatic descent creates an almost unsettling beauty, pulling listeners into a quiet moment of reflection rather than celebration. It's atmospheric without being precious.

Who it's for

SSA choirs seeking a winter selection that sounds mature without demanding years of advanced training. This works equally well for high school ensembles with solid part independence or community and adult choirs wanting contemporary secular repertoire with literary weight.

How to get the most out of it

  • Bring out the contrast between the flowing opening theme and the descending counter melody by shaping phrases with clear direction rather than constant vibrato.
  • Layer the refrain carefully in rehearsal; have each part enter separately so singers hear exactly where their line sits within the full texture before blending it all together.
  • Let the winter imagery guide your interpretation: the chill in the chromatic movement is real, not sentimental. Precision and clarity will serve this piece better than warmth.

How to use it

Pair this with a cappella work and a more rhythmically active piece to round out a winter concert that balances mood and energy. It also serves as an excellent teaching piece mid-season when your singers have developed enough ensemble awareness to handle layered textures and understand text painting as a compositional tool.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and executing chromatic descent in counter melody lines
  • Balancing individual melodic lines within a full three-part texture
  • Responding to text painting as a guide for musical interpretation
  • Sustaining consistent intonation while singing above or below harmonic centers
  • Listening for vertical harmonic color and blend across SSA combinations

You May Also Like