Once Upon a December

2-Part with Piano

Posted by Natalie Cardillo | ChoralPop

🕰 Style & Background

Once Upon a December is a hauntingly nostalgic ballad from the animated film Anastasia (1997), reimagined here for two-part treble choir. With its lilting waltz rhythm, minor tonality, and cinematic phrasing, the arrangement captures a dreamlike memory of love and loss. It offers a rich opportunity to work on expressive singing, breath support, and storytelling through tone.

Music by: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by: Lynn Ahrens
Arranged by: Audrey Snyder (or publisher variant)
Language: English (with optional Russian-style vowel shaping)
Style: Cinematic musical theatre / contemporary choral
Time Period: Late 20th Century (1997 film score)

💡 Why This Piece Works

This piece is beloved for its emotional warmth and rich atmosphere. With a melody that feels both timeless and fresh, Once Upon a December balances delicate phrasing with sweeping crescendos — perfect for working on dynamics, tone, and blend in younger or intermediate treble ensembles. It’s familiar to audiences, musically satisfying for singers, and elegant in any concert setting.

🎯 Ideal for These Concerts

✅ Winter Concerts
✅ Thematic Concerts (memory, dreams, magic, longing)
✅ Pops Concerts (especially film, Disney, or musical theater themes)
⚠️ Graduation (if paired with nostalgic themes)
✅ Festival or Adjudication (interpretive potential)

🌎 Geographic Origin

• Film & Original Score: United States

• Fictional Setting: Imperial Russia

• Stylistic Influence: Russian lullaby and waltz traditions

🎵 Musical Characteristics

Melodic Range

• Soprano: C4–F5

• Alto: A3–C5
  Solo Range: None required; melody is shared throughout both parts

Key & Tonality

• Primarily in D Minor, with occasional modal shifts and D Major lift at the end
  Solfege Accessibility: Moderate – largely diatonic, with minor mode challenges and expressive chromaticism

Rhythmic Complexity

• Flowing 3/4 waltz meter

• Occasional tempo rubato

• Requires sensitive interpretation, but rhythmically accessible overall

Text Clarity & Diction

• Phrases are legato and vowel-rich, encouraging vocal line and blend

• Perfect for working on long phrases and lyrical diction

Harmonic Density

• 2-part harmony with simple thirds, open fifths, and light dissonance

• Gentle piano accompaniment supports singers harmonically and rhythmically

Form & Repetition

• Verse–Refrain form, with recurring melodic motifs

• Climactic build in the final chorus

• Balanced structure supports memorization and dynamic shaping

📩 Price Comparison Summary

Retailer Format Price Link

Sheet Music Plus 2-Part + Piano Octavo $2.15 View

J.W. Pepper 2-Part + Piano Octavo $2.15 View

Hal Leonard 2-Part Octavo $2.15 View