Velvet Shoes: 2-Part / SSA Choral Octavo
Text adapted from the poem by Elinor Wylie, music and additional words by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0006648
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Andy Beck brings his gift for vivid text painting, evocative piano motives, and tuneful melodies to a favorite wintertime poem. Though not a word-for-word setting, the themes of the Elinor Wylie's words are evident from the snow-covered introduction, winding melody, and expressive andante, to the silken harmonic palette and lacy choral layers. Choose this piece with the confidence that it has been carefully constructed to encourage musicality and artistry from any ensemble. Program the eloquent concert and contest work from fall to spring, anytime there might be snow on the ground. "We shall walk in velvet shoes . . . under a veil of lace." This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006648
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged over 450 works for choir, voice, and children's theatre that are performed by singers across the globe. His educational resources, including Sing at First Sight and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique, shape how singers learn literacy and technique in rehearsal settings. Beck holds degrees in music education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, and he remains active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for honor choirs and all-state ensembles throughout the Southeast and beyond.
Beyond his publishing work, Beck is an accomplished tenor and a frequent performer in musical theatre and chamber contexts. Since 1992, he has served as a studio singer for Alfred Music, bringing firsthand knowledge of what singers need from the music they perform. His dual commitment to artistry and pedagogy shapes every publication he creates, ensuring that choral works challenge musicians while remaining accessible.
Why we love this
Beck's gift for translating poetry into musical imagery is on full display here. The snow-covered introduction and winding melody capture Elinor Wylie's winter imagery without leaning on cliché, while the silken harmonies and lacy layering invite singers to find artistry in every phrase. This is the kind of piece that lifts an ensemble's artistic ambition because the music itself demands and rewards careful interpretation.
What to expect
Serene and meditative, with the hushed quality of walking through fresh snow. The harmonic language feels contemporary yet warm, and the overall effect is one of quiet beauty and introspection rather than grandeur.
Who it's for
This piece suits treble and mixed choirs at the high school level and beyond, including concert choirs and festival ensembles seeking literary depth without excessive technical demand. Directors programming winter concerts or looking for contest work that pairs artistic substance with accessibility will find real value here.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the piano's evocative motives against the choral lines. The accompaniment carries as much of the story as the voices do; resist covering it with overly full sonority in the ensemble.
- Shape the melody with unhurried phrasing that honors the flowing, walking quality of the text. Resist rushing; let the andante tempo settle the mood of silence and snow.
- Blend the SSA voicing with attention to the harmonic color Beck creates. The silken quality comes from voices finding their place within the vertical sonorities, not from pushing individual lines.
How to use it
This piece opens doors for fall-through-spring programming, especially in February concerts or any winter-themed performance. Its elegance and restraint make it an ideal companion to more energetic repertoire, offering audiences a moment of lyrical reflection. It also stands alone as a compelling festival or contest selection that showcases musicality over virtuosity.
Skills your students will build
- sustaining legit tone and breath control through extended vocal lines
- blending voices within vertical harmonic structures
- connecting text imagery to musical interpretation and phrasing
- reading and balancing SSA voicing with piano accompaniment
- developing musicality through attention to dynamics and color in a contemporary harmonic language