All My Trials: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Traditional Folk Song / arr. Jeff Funk
Level: Moderate
Item: 00-PO-0005363
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This traditional American folksong truly comes to life in this extremely creative setting by Jeff Funk. The beauty of the original melody and the power of its haunting text come through. Perfect for festival time!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Studio PR Catalog
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0005363
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jeff Funk
Jeff Funk launched his publishing career at eighteen with "Fly to the Sky Tonight" and has since become a prolific choral arranger with over 1.7 million copies of his works in circulation. A summa cum laude graduate of Millikin University (1993), Funk gained national recognition when his composition "Believe in the Music" opened NBC's broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2000. Beyond music, he has contributed short fiction to published anthologies and served as assistant editor for Necro Publications, while also appearing as a featured extra in the independent horror film "Return in Red," which premiered at the Leeds Festival in the United Kingdom.
Funk's body of choral work spans hundreds of titles across multiple genres and voicings, reflecting both his technical skill as an arranger and his ear for meaningful text. His settings consistently prioritize the integrity of source material while bringing fresh interpretive layers to familiar songs.
Why we love this
Funk's arrangement respects the emotional weight of this spiritual while making it shine for younger singers. The moderate difficulty and three-part voicing fit typical middle school or early high school programs, and the creative orchestration transforms what could be a straightforward folk treatment into something memorable without overwhelming inexperienced choirs.
What to expect
The arrangement preserves the spiritual's meditative, sorrowful character while layering gentle harmonies that deepen rather than distract from the original melody. The result feels both grounded in tradition and contemporary in its clarity, allowing the text's emotional truth to emerge naturally.
Who it's for
This arrangement works well for treble and mixed middle school choirs, early high school programs, and festival choirs seeking accessible yet artistically substantial American repertoire. Singers need secure music-reading skills and the maturity to sustain legit tone, but the moderate level keeps technical demands manageable.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the haunting quality of the text with clarity of tone; this song's power comes from honest, sustained singing rather than dramatic excess.
- Encourage singers to understand the historical context of the text so their expression reflects genuine meaning, not manufactured sentiment.
- Use the eight-page score to identify sectional rehearsal priorities early; mark any divisi passages or rhythmic unison moments that need alignment before full ensemble runs.
How to use it
Feature this during a concert devoted to American choral heritage or pair it with other spirituals and folk settings to create a thematic program. Its eight pages make it suitable for festival competition or a concert second-half piece where audiences have settled into listening attentively.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained legit tone production in a cappella or lightly accompanied settings
- Expressive interpretation of text-driven narrative and emotional content
- Three-part voice independence while maintaining harmonic blend
- Sensitivity to American folk and spiritual traditions