All My Trials: SSA Choral Octavo
All My Trials Sheet Music Preview

All My Trials: SSA Choral Octavo

Arranged by Tom Fettke / Arranged by Thomas Grassi

Item: 35-DS00164777
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 10
SKU: 35-DS00164777

More about this title

About the Arranger: Tom Fettke

Tom Fettke

Tom Fettke has spent more than five decades writing and arranging choral music for schools and churches, with hundreds of published works to his name. His influence extends far beyond individual compositions; he shaped worship music on a national scale as creator and senior editor of The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration, which placed over three million copies in church pews since 1986, and later as senior editor of The Celebration Hymnal. His work reflects deep roots in music education: he holds credentials from Oakland City College and California State University at Hayward, taught vocal music in California public schools, directed choirs in churches of all sizes, and served as Director of Choral Activities for the Redwood Christian School System.

The Majesty and Glory of Your Name stands as testament to his gift for writing pieces that endure in the repertoire, sung by thousands of choirs worldwide. Fettke's career reveals a musician equally at home in the classroom, the choir loft, and the publishing house, always driven by the conviction that choral music should be relevant, practical, and alive.

Why we love this

This arrangement captures the quiet resilience of the spiritual without over-orchestrating it. Fettke's touch here respects the song's origins while giving SSA choirs something genuinely singable and dramatically satisfying to perform.

What to expect

There is quiet acceptance in this music, a kind of steady faith that neither demands drama nor retreats into sentimentality. The harmonies are warm and grounded, creating space for the text to resonate.

Who it's for

This arrangement suits SSA and SSAA choirs at the high school and community college level, as well as adult church choirs seeking spirituals with depth and accessibility. Directors looking for repertoire that bridges sacred tradition and contemporary concert programming will find this a natural fit.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the text guide your dynamic choices. The wisdom in these lyrics deepens when singers understand what they are singing about and allow that meaning to shape their phrasing.
  • Pay attention to balance between the parts. SSA writing can blur if the middle voice doesn't anchor the harmony; make sure your second sopranos know they are the harmonic foundation.
  • Shape the melody through breath, not vibrato. This spiritual benefits from a cleaner tone and deliberate phrasing that honors the song's folk heritage.

How to use it

This works beautifully in a concert built around American roots music or spirituals, where it can anchor a set of related works. It also serves well as a moment of reflection in a longer choral concert, offering audiences a chance to hear this essential spiritual through contemporary voices.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing legit spirituals with historical awareness and cultural sensitivity
  • Balancing blend in three-part writing with emphasis on harmonic function
  • Shaping longer phrases with minimal accompaniment support
  • Understanding text-driven interpretation in folk and spiritual traditions

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