A Is for Alto: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Althouse zeroes in on the alto section's identity with genuine humor and celebration rather than condescension. This piece succeeds because it gives altos the melodic spotlight while maintaining accessibility for all voice parts, making it genuinely fun to rehearse and perform.

Spirited and affirming, this piece captures the playful energy of a choir that knows how to laugh at itself. The alto melody bounces with confidence while other voices offer good-natured support, creating a performance that feels like an inside joke the audience gets to share.

This piece works for any choir with developing altos who deserve recognition and a moment at the front. It's equally valuable for mixed choirs looking to build ensemble cohesion through humor and for honor choirs who want something genuinely entertaining alongside more serious repertoire.

• Balance the supporting voices to let the alto melody sing through without effort; the humor lands only when the alto line projects clearly.
• Encourage altos to embrace the humorous confidence of their part. The song works when they deliver their 'A is for alto' with pride.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during early rehearsals to help singers anchor the harmonic movement while learning their parts.

Program this as a morale-builder in a concert of mixed styles, where it provides vocal relief and genuine laughter between more substantial works. It also pairs well with other Althouse pieces or other character-driven secular choral pieces that showcase different sections of your choir.

• Singing supported harmony that serves a melody rather than competing with it
• Reading and performing 2-part voicing with independent alto and combined second voice
• Balancing ensemble blend with individual voice line projection
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in a light, swing-oriented style