What a Heavenly Night! Cover Image

What a Heavenly Night!: SATB Choral Octavo

$1.75 USD
$1.75 USD
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What a Heavenly Night! Cover Image
What a Heavenly Night!: SATB Choral Octavo

What a Heavenly Night!: SATB Choral Octavo

Mary Had a Baby

Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht

Item: 00-31207
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Description
This spirited original for Christmas bursts with energy and joy. Features touches of the familiar spiritual "Mary Had a Baby," along with brief optional solos, hand claps, and a soulful descant. Also appropriate for church choirs. Featured on the Danza! Movement DVD (00-31225).

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081339788
SKU: 00-31207

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades, first as Director of School Choral and Vocal Publications for major educational publishers, most recently Alfred Music, and throughout as a prolific composer with more than 600 published works. Her contributions to the field have been recognized annually by ASCAP since 1987, and she has conducted honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center. Her particular gift lies in writing music that moves bodies as well as voices, a philosophy reflected in her extensive work with choral movement and staging.

Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977, and M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), and has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. Her impact extends beyond composition into institutional leadership; she has chaired the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and received their Pillar of Leadership award, along with Distinguished Alumna Awards from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College in 2021. She lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.

Why we love this

Albrecht fuses spiritual tradition with modern choral energy in a way that energizes both singers and audiences. The integration of movement, hand claps, and optional solos gives your choir agency in the performance while the familiar "Mary Had a Baby" melody anchors the text in genuine musical roots. This is concert repertoire that doesn't sacrifice joy for sophistication.

What to expect

Joyful and alive, with a spiritual undercurrent that keeps the energy grounded in genuine emotion rather than mere entertainment. The hand claps and optional solos give the piece an intimate, contemporary feel while the descant and spiritual references honor tradition. Singing it feels celebratory without being saccharine.

Who it's for

Choirs looking for Christmas repertoire that energizes singers and audiences alike. This piece works equally well in school choir contexts and church settings where movement and contemporary spirit are welcome. It's ideal for directors who value accessibility alongside artistic integrity.

How to get the most out of it

  • Encourage singers to commit fully to the hand claps; their rhythmic precision and enthusiasm set the groove for the entire piece.
  • Bring out the soulful descant as a textural highlight rather than a background layer. It deserves breath and presence.
  • If using optional solos, select singers who can deliver both clarity and warmth; the solos work best when they feel conversational within the ensemble.
  • Explore the movement and staging suggestions from the Danza! DVD to unlock the piece's full theatrical potential. Choir energy multiplies when bodies engage alongside voices.

How to use it

Program this as an opener or closer on a Christmas concert where you want to energize both your singers and your audience. It pairs well alongside more reverent seasonal pieces, providing textural and emotional contrast. The built-in movement makes it an excellent choice for concerts where staging and visual interest matter.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing in SATB voicing with independence while maintaining ensemble blend
  • Rhythmic precision with hand claps and percussion layering
  • Managing optional solos within a full choral texture
  • Integrating movement and staging with accurate singing
  • Interpreting spiritual musical language and call-and-response traditions

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