The Winter's Night: SATB a cappella Choral Octavo
Words and music by Nick Myers
Item: 00-PO-0000487
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
An outstanding choral work. Both the music and the strong lyrics evoke the sound and chill of a deep winter night, "quiet and still, while all the world's asleep . . . dreams pure as white, white as the snow." Stunning. The choral writing is straightforward, yet fresh and contemporary. A concert choir work of great depth.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Lawson-Gould
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0000487
More about this title
About the Composer: Nicholas Myers
Nicholas Myers studied composition and orchestration at NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, earning his degree in 2012. His work as a composer and orchestrator has appeared on Broadway in productions including If/Then, Bring It On, and Grace, where he collaborated on music and production across multiple genres.
Why we love this
Myers brings theatrical sophistication to choral writing without sacrificing accessibility. The music matches the poetry's emotional clarity—contemporary in voice yet deeply singable—and the piece works equally well in concert or contest settings because it trusts the text and voices to create its impact rather than relying on production gimmicks.
What to expect
The piece captures the crystalline stillness of winter—hushed, contemplative, with moments of subtle warmth beneath the chill. The contemporary harmonic language creates intrigue without feeling cold or distant; instead it feels intimate, as though listeners are eavesdropping on a private meditation.
Who it's for
This work suits experienced high school and college choirs with solid ensemble blend and the ability to sustain tone without accompaniment. Directors programming concert or festival selections will find it demands musicality and attention to diction while remaining within reach of singers committed to careful preparation.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening phrases with dynamic restraint; the 'quiet and still' imagery asks for genuine softness, not just lower volume.
- Balance the parts carefully in the middle section so the imagery builds gradually rather than plateauing.
- Experiment with breath placement between phrases to honor the poetic line breaks and create natural phrasing across the full work.
- Allow space for the piece to breathe; resist the urge to rush into subsequent phrases. Silence is as important as sound here.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a winter concert or as a strong selection for choral festival competitions. Its eight pages and focused emotional arc make it ideal for pairing with contrasting works in the same program; the restraint here would shine beside something more extroverted.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining tone in a cappella singing without harmonic support
- Interpreting contemporary harmonic language and voice leading
- Balancing blend and diction across SATB parts without accompaniment
- Connecting lyrics to musical shape and phrasing
- Building ensemble cohesion and intonation awareness