Alleluia for Our Time: SSA Choral Octavo
By Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0000387
$1.75
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A strong choral statement that begins in C minor, builds, and finishes powerfully with a jubilant ending in E-flat major. Great contemporary writing, accessible for today's choirs. One of Jay Althouse's best works. Perfect for festivals, adjudications, and concerts, any time of year.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000387
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus. He spent eight years working as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that tenure.
With over 800 choral works in print across all levels, Althouse's compositions are performed consistently throughout the English-speaking world. A writer member of ASCAP and multi-time recipient of the ASCAP Special Award, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled significant vocal solo collections, and authored influential resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His collaborative work "I Hear America Singing" was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration. Based in North Carolina, he serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and contributes regularly to its publications.
Why we love this
This piece captures exactly what modern choral directors want: music with real harmonic depth and emotional arc that doesn't overwhelm your singers. The tonal shift from C minor to E-flat major feels inevitable rather than gimmicky, and the jubilant ending gives your singers something genuinely joyful to sing and your audience something to leave with. Althouse's gift for contemporary accessibility means your SSA section will sound confident and musical from early rehearsals onward.
What to expect
The piece opens with quiet contemplation in C minor, gradually gathering energy and conviction as voices layer and build. When the final section arrives in E-flat major, the shift feels like light breaking through, generous and celebratory without sentimentality. You're singing something that matters.
Who it's for
SSA choirs seeking festival and adjudication repertoire that displays musical sophistication without requiring advanced vocal technique. This works equally well for high school and community choirs that want a contemporary sacred piece with genuine substance and an uplifting arc.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the opening minor tonality with warmth rather than darkness; this is a statement of strength, not despair, even as it builds from introspection.
- Shape the key change to E-flat major as a genuine arrival, not a sudden shift. Let the build breathe so the final major section feels earned.
- Mark your dynamic journey clearly during early rehearsals; the piece's power comes from its architecture, so tracking when intensity peaks helps singers understand their role in the overall shape.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a festival or competition selection where you need a contemporary choral work with clear structure and impact. It also pairs naturally on concert programs with other sacred repertoire, especially pieces in darker keys; the tonal contrast will heighten the effect of both. The accessible vocal writing makes it viable for mid-season programming even with younger or less experienced ensembles.
Skills your students will build
- Managing tonal shifts between related keys (C minor to E-flat major)
- Building dynamic shape and architectural awareness across a complete piece
- Balancing blend and independence in SSA voicing during layered textures
- Sustaining musical focus through extended builds and key changes