A Jubilant Song: SSA, a cappella Choral Octavo
Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0003286
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Three-part women's and men's ensembles will excel with this majestic a cappella concert work. Joyful melodic motives are passed from voice to voice, and percussive handclaps bridge varied sections of the well-developed form. Especially effective in antiphonal formation!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003286
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades, both as a prolific composer and as a major voice in music publishing. Her catalog exceeds 600 choral works and 75 larger theatrical pieces, and she has been recognized annually by ASCAP since 1987 for her contributions to music. She has conducted honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and spent most of her career directing choral, vocal, and elementary publications for leading educational music publishers.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977, and M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), and has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. A Cleveland native, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College in 2021, and served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society.
Why we love this
Albrecht's gift for writing lyrical, conversational lines between voices keeps singers engaged while sounding utterly natural. The strategic use of handclaps as a structural and rhythmic anchor transforms what could be a standard concert piece into something tactile and energizing, and the antiphonal setup invites directors to experiment with spatial arrangement and formation in ways that deepen singers' musical awareness.
What to expect
Jubilant and warm, with an inviting transparency that comes from SSA writing and a cappella honesty. The handclaps punctuate moments of joy and forward motion, creating a piece that feels both celebratory and carefully crafted, never dumbed down for its accessible range.
Who it's for
SSA choirs ranging from high school mixed or women's ensembles to community and college groups looking for an accessible yet sophisticated a cappella work. Directors seeking literature that combines singability with genuine musical substance will find this especially rewarding for groups ready to explore antiphonal performance.
How to get the most out of it
- Map out your antiphonal formation early in rehearsals so singers understand sight lines and cues; this piece rewards physical intentionality.
- Isolate the handclap sections separately and establish a consistent, unified timbre before integrating them with the vocal lines.
- Let the joyful melodic motives breathe as they pass between voice parts; avoid rushing the handoff moments, which are the piece's architectural markers.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece or lighter contrasting work alongside more dramatic repertoire. Its well-developed form and antiphonal possibilities make it ideal for spring concerts or festivals where you want to showcase both musicality and the ensemble's ability to blend in formation.
Skills your students will build
- Singing independent lines while tracking other voice parts
- Maintaining ensemble blend and intonation in a cappella texture
- Responding to visual cues and antiphonal entries across spatial distance
- Coordinating rhythmic precision with handclaps as structural elements
- Shaping phrasing across passed melodic motives