Winter Is Calling (A Holiday Madrigal): SATB Choral Octavo
Winter Is Calling (A Holiday Madrigal) Sheet Music Preview

Winter Is Calling (A Holiday Madrigal): SATB Choral Octavo

By Joseph M. Martin

Item: 35-DS00612938
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$2.35
Description

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 7
SKU: 35-DS00612938

More about this title

About the Composer: Joseph M. Martin

Joseph M. Martin

Joseph M. Martin studied piano performance at Furman University and earned his master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he later taught in the Piano Pedagogy Department for five years. His career spans both the concert hall and the church; he has performed solo recitals across the United States and Mexico, appeared as a featured artist with symphony orchestras, and won the Nina Plant Wideman Competition to perform with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra.

Today Martin devotes much of his energy to church music and compositions that reach audiences in worship settings, concert halls, and conferences for church musicians. His works have been performed at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to regional theaters, and his distinctive gift for variety in both scope and style continues to resonate with singers and musicians nationwide. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.

Why we love this

Martin's madrigal approach brings a sophisticated lightness to holiday programming, avoiding the sentimentality that can weigh down December concerts. The a cappella setting lets the text and melodic interplay carry the season's emotional weight, giving singers genuine musical challenge without requiring instrumental support. This piece stands out because it treats the holiday season as something genuinely contemplative rather than purely festive.

What to expect

Contemplative and elegant, with the intimacy of voices singing together without instrumental accompaniment. The madrigal tradition creates an almost chamber-like quality, inviting listeners into a quieter moment of seasonal reflection.

Who it's for

Choirs with solid fundamentals in independent voice leading and intonation. The piece works for high school advanced choirs, college programs, and adult community choirs seeking repertoire beyond the typical holiday fare.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the four voices so that no single line dominates; madrigals thrive on the independence of each part weaving together. Listen for moments where one voice should emerge briefly before settling back into the texture.
  • Attend closely to the text underlay and word placement. The rhythm of the language should inform your phrasing rather than fighting against it.
  • Rehearse the piece by voice part first, then in pairs (SA and TB), before bringing all four together. This exposes individual line shape and makes the full texture more cohesive.
  • Shape dynamics across full phrases rather than holding a single dynamic throughout. Small swells and recessions will keep the texture alive and prevent flatness over seven pages.

How to use it

Position this as an opening or intermission piece to establish a more sophisticated holiday program, or pair it with instrumental works to create a mixed concert. Its seven-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a set while remaining concise enough to sit comfortably alongside longer choral works.

Skills your students will build

  • Independent voice leading in four-part writing
  • A cappella intonation and blend
  • Text clarity and diction in ensemble setting
  • Phrase shaping across longer musical lines
  • Understanding madrigal conventions and performance practice

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