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A Psalm: SATB Choral Octavo

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A Psalm Cover Image
A Psalm: SATB Choral Octavo

A Psalm: SATB Choral Octavo

Words based on Traditional Psalms, music and new words by Andy Beck

Item: 00-41525
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Description
Composed as a special commission for the North Carolina All-State Honors Chorus, this contemporary concert work is satisfying from start to finish. The exuberant music provides a joyful foundation for a text inspired by the Book of Psalms, and a layered add-on section builds to the glorious coda.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Psalm: SATB Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
UPC: 038081447254
SKU: 00-41525

More about this title

About the Composer: Andy Beck

Andy Beck

Andy Beck leads the choral publications division at Alfred Music, where he shapes the catalog of resources that hundreds of thousands of singers use in rehearsal rooms every year. His output as a composer and arranger spans over 450 published works, from vocal warm-up books like Vocalize! to sight-singing pedagogies and children's musicals, many of which have become staples in choral classrooms and honor choir programs across the country.

Beyond the page, Beck maintains an active presence as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator at honor choirs throughout the United States and beyond. A trained tenor with degrees from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, he brings the perspective of both a performer and educator to everything he writes. His work as a studio singer and his involvement with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir keep him grounded in the realities of rehearsal and performance.

Why we love this

Beck understands exactly what an honor choir needs: music that feels fresh and contemporary without sacrificing singability, and a structure that builds momentum toward a payoff. The layered architecture here creates natural rehearsal milestones and gives your singers the satisfaction of watching the piece expand and deepen. A commission for North Carolina's all-state level speaks to the piece's quality and professional finish.

What to expect

Joyful and energized from the opening, with a musical language that feels both grounded in choral tradition and alive to contemporary writing. The piece lifts and expands as it progresses, carrying singers and listeners toward a coda that justifies the journey.

Who it's for

Honor choirs, festival ensembles, and concert programs looking for contemporary sacred music that challenges singers without overwhelming rehearsal time. This piece works equally well for directors preparing students for all-state auditions or shaping a festival program that balances tradition with fresh composition.

How to get the most out of it

  • Attend to the balance between unison and divisi passages. The harmonic densities shift deliberately, so clarify which moments anchor everyone on the same pitch and which invite fuller vertical color.
  • Shape the text with attention to its psalm-inspired language. The music has exuberance, but the words deserve space and clarity, especially in moments where the accompaniment pulls back.
  • Use the coda as your dramatic endpoint. Resist the temptation to peak before you get there; save energy and projection for the final section where all the layers come together.
  • Prepare your singers for the tessituras in each voice part. The writing is idiomatic, but checking ranges early in rehearsal saves time later and builds confidence.

How to use it

Pair this as your concert anchor or festival opener. The exuberance reads well early in a program and sets an engaged tone for the audience. Its 16-page length and SATB accessibility also make it ideal for festivals or competitions where you want substantial repertoire that showcases choral maturity without demanding a baroque motet or requiem excerpt.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing unison and divisi textures within a single piece
  • Shaping sacred text for clarity and expressive impact
  • Building sustained energy across a multi-section form
  • Managing tessituras across diverse vocal ranges in contemporary writing
  • Responding to a composer's use of layering to create architectural shape

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