Watching It Snow: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by David Waggoner
Item: 00-PO-0006020
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
The buoyant melody, light syncopations, and simple beginning harmonies nearly sing themselves in this sweet ballad about observing winter through a frosted windowpane. Vivid imagery evokes a chill, while tender music provides warmth. "Nothing to do. Nowhere to go. I'm happy here, just watching it snow."
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006020
More about this title
About the Composer: David Waggoner
David Waggoner brings classroom experience and liturgical depth to his compositional work. An alumnus of the University of Michigan School of Music with a master's degree from Eastern Michigan University, he currently teaches elementary music in Woodhaven, Michigan, while serving as Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Wyandotte.
Waggoner's catalog spans choirs, handbells, and instrumental ensembles. His compositions reflect both his training and his daily work with young singers and church musicians.
Why we love this
Waggoner captures the exact feeling of stillness and contentment in a winter moment without resorting to heavy sentiment. The syncopations and buoyant melody keep the piece engaging for young singers, while the accessible two-part writing and simple harmony progressions mean your singers can focus on the text and its tender imagery rather than wrestling with technical demands.
What to expect
The music wraps around the text like a warm blanket on a cold day. Vivid imagery of frost and snowfall contrasts with melodies that feel almost like a quiet hum, creating an intimate scene of quiet contentment. There is no urgency here, only the gentle pleasure of watching something beautiful unfold beyond a window.
Who it's for
This octavo works for middle school and early high school choirs, treble choirs, or youth ensembles seeking approachable winter repertoire with real musical character. The 2-part voicing and straightforward harmonies make it accessible to singers with limited reading experience or smaller programs.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the light syncopations breathe naturally; avoid rushing the rhythmic figures, which lose their charm when pushed too quickly.
- Shape the melody with the text's quiet observation in mind, treating the opening lines ('Nothing to do. Nowhere to go.') as intimate and reflective rather than peppy.
- Balance the two parts so neither overwhelms; the harmonies are simple enough that both voices should sit in equal relief, creating transparency rather than a thick texture.
- If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse without it first so singers own the melody and rhythm independently before adding the track.
How to use it
Pair this with other winter or seasonal pieces to build a concert set that moves beyond traditional holiday fare. It also stands beautifully as a featured selection in a spring or end-of-year concert where variety in mood and season lightens the program's arc.
Skills your students will build
- Singing syncopated rhythms in simple meter (maintaining clarity in the light, off-beat figures)
- Reading 2-part harmony with primarily diatonic voice leading
- Lyric interpretation and emotional phrasing in a reflective context
- Part independence while maintaining textural balance