'Tis the Season: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: 'Tis the Season: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-11347
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

A Partner Song with "The Holly and the Ivy"

Music by Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid

Item: 00-11347

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It's a seasonal partner song with The Holly And The Ivy. The new "partner" melody is a gem and fits perfectly with the traditional carol. Fun to sing and easy to teach . . . a real plus at holiday time when rehearsal time is often scarce. Another "no surprises" choral winner from Donnelly and Strid.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, 'Tis the Season: 2-Part 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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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081024011

SKU: 00-11347

More about this title

About the Composer: Mary Donnelly

Mary Donnelly spent thirty years in the Reno, Nevada public schools teaching general music and choir at the elementary and middle school levels. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nevada, Reno (with majors in English and French) and a Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she focused on integrating arts across the curriculum.

In 1985, Donnelly began a songwriting partnership with George L. O. Strid when their principal challenged them to write a musical for Reading Week. That first project spawned a prolific collaboration spanning over two hundred compositions and twenty-five musicals. She remains active in ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP.

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Why we love this

Donnelly and Strid have crafted a genuinely singable partner melody that complements the familiar carol without overshadowing it, a balance many arrangers struggle to achieve. When rehearsal time compresses into the holiday stretch, a piece this straightforward to teach and this musically rewarding pays immediate dividends. The writing is transparent and confident, letting students focus on blend and phrasing rather than navigating complex voicing or rhythmic traps.

What to expect

Warm and unhurried, with the gentle familiarity of The Holly and the Ivy anchoring the sound while a new melodic thread weaves alongside it. The result feels like discovering a second verse to a beloved carol you thought you already knew completely.

Who it's for

Middle school and high school choirs looking for a clean, quickly-learned addition to their December programming. Directors who value efficient rehearsal time without sacrificing musical quality will find this especially useful when holiday performances arrive faster than expected.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the two melodic lines by rehearsing them separately first, then gradually bring them together at half tempo before moving to performance speed.
Let the familiar tune lead the ear; the partner melody should sit comfortably underneath without demanding attention.
Shape phrases across the bar line rather than treating each measure as a unit, which helps the piece breathe naturally.
Record a quick demonstration so students can hear how the two melodies interact when sung together.

How to use it

Pair this directly with The Holly and the Ivy to create a longer choral moment that feels both fresh and grounded in tradition. It works equally well as a standalone encore or as part of a mixed-voicing holiday medley where rehearsal time is limited but impact cannot be compromised.