A Psalm: SATB Choral Octavo
Words based on Traditional Psalms, music and new words by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0001780
$1.95
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0001780
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged more than 450 works for singers across all ages and skill levels. His output spans concert choral music, vocal pedagogical resources like Sing at First Sight and Vocalize!, and children's musicals, with performances documented across the globe. He holds degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University.
Beyond the page, Beck maintains an active career as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for music educators nationwide. He has served as a commissioned composer and conductor for honor choirs throughout the Southeast, including all-state ensembles. A tenor himself, he performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and has contributed vocals to Alfred Music projects since 1992, bringing firsthand knowledge of what singers need from both the rehearsal room and the concert stage.
Why we love this
Beck's commission for the North Carolina All-State Honors Chorus demonstrates his gift for writing music that sounds sophisticated without demanding unnecessary technical hurdles. The text-painting feels organic rather than forced, and the coda structure gives singers a genuine sense of building toward something meaningful. This is the kind of work that choirs want to rehearse and audiences want to hear.
What to expect
Exuberant and celebratory, with a joyful energy that the harmonic language reinforces throughout. The texture builds gradually from a clear foundation into rich, layered sonorities that feel earned rather than sudden, culminating in a coda that lands with both warmth and power.
Who it's for
This octavo suits advanced high school choirs, college ensembles, and competitive festival groups seeking contemporary sacred literature with musical substance. Directors programming concert works or festival entries will find a piece that balances accessibility with genuine artistic depth.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the dynamic arc gradual across the layered section leading into the coda. Resist the urge to jump to full volume early; let the add-on harmonies accumulate naturally so the final gesture lands with maximum impact.
- Balance the text clarity across all voice parts, especially where the harmonic writing becomes denser. Singers should feel the exuberance in the music without sacrificing diction.
- Use the 16-page length as an opportunity for pacing in rehearsal. Break the piece into manageable sections by the structural transitions Beck provides, which will help singers understand how each moment supports the overall arc.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a centerpiece in a sacred or secular concert program, offering variety if programmed alongside more introspective choral works. Its contemporary idiom and festival-ready polish also make it ideal for competitive events or honor choir repertoire where choirs benefit from music written with their capabilities in mind.
Skills your students will build
- Singing layered harmonies with independent voice parts
- Text expression within a contemporary harmonic language
- Building dynamic intensity across extended structural sections
- Balancing blend and clarity in fuller choral textures