Winter Magic

"Winter Magic" is a jazz waltz that may sound a little more difficult than it actually is to sing. Intermediate choirs should be able to perform it without struggling. Older choirs can bring the nuance and dynamics it needs to really shine. The song verses are very poetic in text, contrasted with a jazzy scat chorus as its hook. If you've ever had the opportunity or taken one to just stand and be silent as twilight turns to day, you'll understand the "magic" referred to in this song. That feeling is what we attempt to evoke with the text.

Now let's talk about the approach. Listen first to the track mix with a particular focus on the wind section. Your "Ba dap's" should mimic them. Notice the crispness of "Ba dap bap ba da" with a staccato on the "dap bap's." Then the "da" at the end of the first phrase is performed as a forte piano with an immediate crescendo into the next "Ba dap." Then the "da's" in measures 5-7 are each given a forte piano. In other words, a strong attack with an immediate decrescendo.

Once you hit the verse, you'll want to smooth it out, but you must be careful to maintain good articulation. Poetic texts are a bit harder for your audience to understand with only one chance to listen. The verses pretty much stay mezzo piano but with crescendos and decrescendos following the rise and fall of the melody. The final chorus after the bridge is mezzo forte but builds to a forte by the end.

An audio rehearsal track for part 2, which is optional, can be found on our web site.