A Pleasant Life: SSA Choral Octavo
Words adapted from poems by Sir Richard Fanshawe and Francis Beaumont, music and new words, by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0005782
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Practical, timeless advice abounds in this jaunty contemporary choral with texts lifted from Renaissance-era poetry and a translation of ancient verse. The opening melody winds around the tonic triad before the B section breaks into colorful contemporary harmony in a chorale setting. Light, yet legit.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005782
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. His career in music publishing spanned eight years as a rights and licenses administrator, during which he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. Today he maintains an active composing practice with over 800 choral works in print, performed widely across English-speaking countries.
Althouse's output spans multiple genres and formats. He has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, assembled respected vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and co-authored pedagogical resources like The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His instructional materials (Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, One-Page Composer Bios) are designed for classroom use. As a writer member of ASCAP, he is a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. He served on the board of the North Carolina Master Chorale and currently advises the National Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse balances literary substance with musical accessibility. The pairing of Renaissance and classical texts with contemporary harmonic language gives this piece real intellectual weight while keeping the vocal lines singable and engaging for treble choirs. It's the kind of work that feels fresh in concert without demanding instrumental accompaniment or excessive rehearsal time.
What to expect
Jaunty and clever without ever becoming frivolous. The opening has the quality of a folk melody being gently restated, while the B section opens into warm, unexpected harmonic colors that feel contemporary yet approachable. The overall effect is conversational and inviting, grounded in timeless wisdom but expressed through modern musical language.
Who it's for
SSA choirs at the high school and adult levels looking for substantive secular material that performs well in both concert and festival settings. The text-focused writing and contemporary idiom appeal to singers who want intellectual engagement without navigating extreme ranges or complex rhythms.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening melodic line with gentle clarity; it winds methodically through the tonic triad and needs precise intonation to land effectively before the B section arrives.
- Contrast the chorale texture in the B section by lightening the dynamic and tightening vowel unification, letting the contemporary harmony speak without heavy-handedness.
- Balance the three parts carefully through the colorful harmonic passages; inner voices often carry unexpected material that enriches the sonority when heard clearly.
How to use it
Nest this between larger sacred works or partner it with other Althouse pieces to build a cohesive choral program. Its modest length (12 pages) and concert-ready character make it excellent as a festival entry or as a palate cleanser in a mixed repertoire concert where you want to showcase your SSA ensemble's blend and intonation.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing contemporary harmonic language within a chorale texture
- Sustaining legit vocal tone while navigating multiple melodic contours across parts
- Interpreting text with understated musical sensitivity
- Balancing inner voice independence in close harmony