Winter: SSA Choral Octavo
Words by Walter de la Mare, music by Anthony Giamanco / arr. Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0005805
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Walter de la Mare's poem is a fantastic example of the Romantic-era imagination, and even more so when paired with this gorgeously haunting music. A delicately constructed piano accompaniment glides beneath shifting contemporary harmonies and varied choral textures, ultimately leading to a beautifully subdued ending.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0005805
More about this title
About the Composer: Anthony Giamanco
Anthony Giamanco studied composition and music theory at Eastern Michigan University, where he worked with Dady Mehta, Mary Ida Yost, Ernest Brandon, and Anthony Iannaconne. His works for choir, piano, organ, and chamber groups are published through Alfred Music, Lorenz, Laudation Music, GIA, Augsburg Fortress, and Shawnee Press.
Based in South Lyon, Michigan, Giamanco serves as Director of Creative Arts and Worship at Shalom Lutheran Church in Pinckney, where his deep engagement with liturgical and concert music shapes his compositional voice.
Why we love this
Giamanco's setting transforms de la Mare's Romantic text into something immediate and contemporary without losing the poem's emotional weight. The interplay between delicate piano writing and shifting vocal harmonies creates real textural variety across eight pages, making this rewarding for singers who want to sink into something thoughtful rather than flashy.
What to expect
Haunting and introspective, this setting wraps you in winter's quiet beauty. The contemporary harmonies feel modern yet organic, never harsh; the piano accompaniment creates an intimate space where voices can breathe and blend into something larger than themselves.
Who it's for
SSA choirs seeking repertoire that challenges harmonically without requiring a large range or extreme vocal demands. This piece works for advanced high school choirs, college groups, and community ensembles that value literary depth and contemporary writing.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the piano accompaniment carefully so it glides beneath the voices rather than competing for attention; the delicate construction only works when the accompanist colors the harmonies without overwhelming them.
- Attend to the shifting choral textures and contemporary harmonies by rehearsing voice parts independently first, then layering them gradually so singers understand how their line contributes to the overall harmonic movement.
- Shape the subdued ending with intention; resist the urge to add weight or volume to the final phrases. The restraint is the point.
- Work the text musically by exploring how de la Mare's language pairs with Giamanco's harmonic choices in each section, using that relationship to inform phrasing and dynamics.
How to use it
Pair this with other Romantic or contemporary literary settings to build a thematic concert exploring how composers have set poetry. Its subdued character makes it an excellent choice for a concert's second half, or as an opening to a program that gradually builds in energy. The eight-page length fits naturally into festival competitions or concert programs needing a substantial but concise piece.
Skills your students will build
- Singing contemporary harmonies and chromatic voice leading
- Blending in SSA divisi passages and layered textures
- Interpreting poetic text through musical phrasing and expression
- Balancing with piano accompaniment in an intimate ensemble setting
- Building vocal endurance across sustained, lyrical passages