All Aboard!: Score: Choral SoundPax
Chattanooga Choo-Choo / On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe
Arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PR-0004003
$8.00
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Description
A medley of two train songs, "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" and "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe," both with music by the legendary Harry Warren. It's a swinging arrangement that's appropriate for your small pop/jazz groups or your larger choral ensembles. Easy piano accompaniment and singable vocal harmonies.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, All Aboard!: Score: Choral SoundPax 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 Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
28
SKU:
00-PR-0004003
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni. His eight-year tenure in rights and licensing at a major educational music publisher included service on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America, giving him deep insight into how music reaches classrooms and stages.
As a composer, Althouse has created more than 800 works for choirs at every level, performed widely across English-speaking countries. An ASCAP writer member and regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award, he has also co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal collections, and authored influential books for music educators including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. Based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, he serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse's gift for vocal writing shines here: the harmonies sit comfortably in the voice while the arrangement swings with genuine verve rather than mere nostalgia. The medley structure gives you a full production moment in under five minutes, making it ideal for a concert that needs a joyful, tightly constructed set piece without elaborate staging.
What to expect
A vintage locomotive picking up speed: the energy builds from the moment the first notes hit, propelled by the swing groove and the infectious charm of two American songbook standards. The arrangement captures the romance of train travel while keeping everything bright, energetic, and fun.
Who it's for
Directors of mixed or treble choirs seeking accessible yet musically solid repertoire for jazz or pops concerts. This works equally well for smaller ensemble features or full mixed groups, making it flexible for almost any choral setup from chamber to festival setting.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat the rhythmic figures in the piano part as conversation partners with the singers. The accompaniment drives the groove, so rehearse the ensemble with the recorded accompaniment from the start rather than relying solely on piano.
- Balance the chant sections carefully so they feel percussive and rhythmic without overwhelming the melodic phrases above them. Less can be more when the texture thickens.
- Let the tempo breathe slightly at the transition between the two songs. A subtle breath and a hint of ritardando signal the journey from one train to the next.
How to use it
Position this as an upbeat concert opener or as a palate cleanser between heavier repertoire. The medley structure and nostalgic subject matter pair beautifully with other Great American Songbook selections or with folk-based material, creating a cohesive program block that celebrates American musical tradition.
Skills your students will build
- Singing swing rhythms and syncopation
- Blending harmony in close chord voicings
- Responding to jazz-inflected piano accompaniment
- Articulation and diction in uptempo, rhythmically driven text
- Managing two different melodic ideas within a single arrangement