All My Trials: SSA Choral Octavo
Traditional Folk Song / arr. Jeff Funk
Level: Moderate
Item: 00-PO-0005364
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
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-0005364
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jeff Funk
Jeff Funk's prolific career in choral music began at eighteen with the publication of "Fly to the Sky Tonight" and has since produced hundreds of works performed worldwide, with over 1.7 million copies in circulation. A summa cum laude graduate of Millikin University (1993), he gained national recognition when NBC selected his composition "Believe in the Music" as the opening number for the 2000 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast. Beyond his work as a choral arranger and composer, Funk has pursued diverse creative interests as a fiction writer and independent film contributor, and currently resides in Auburn, Indiana, where he continues his editorial work with Necro Publications.
Why we love this
Funk's arrangement honors the emotional weight of this American spiritual without overwrought complexity; the writing sits comfortably for treble voices while introducing harmonic and textural ideas that reward careful rehearsal. The piece fits naturally into festival programs and spring concerts, offering the kind of meaningful repertoire that audiences respond to genuinely.
What to expect
The piece carries the quiet dignity of a spiritual, with moments of surprising harmonic richness that illuminate the text's longing and resilience. Funk's setting preserves the melody's original beauty while layering it with atmospheric counterpoint that feels both contemporary and deeply rooted.
Who it's for
Treble choirs and mixed ensembles at the intermediate level who want to explore American folk spirituals with substantive musical arrangement. Directors programming festival or concert events will find this accessible enough for successful preparation without sacrificing artistic depth.
How to get the most out of it
- Emphasize the transparency of the voicing in the opening phrases to let the haunting text establish its presence before adding harmonic color.
- Balance dynamic contrast carefully; the arrangement's power comes from restraint and strategic intensification, not constant volume changes.
- Attend to the diction on key words like "trials" and "home" to deepen the emotional narrative without sacrificing vowel unity.
How to use it
This arrangement works well in thematic concert programming around American roots music, social justice repertoire, or spring choral festivals. Its moderate length and SSA voicing make it an effective centerpiece for a smaller ensemble showcase or a complementary piece in a mixed program of folk and traditional music.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with intentional text communication in a spiritual idiom
- Balancing individual line independence with blend in three-part voicing
- Responding to subtle dynamic and harmonic shifts that support emotional narrative