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Bound to Go: SATB Choral Octavo

$1.75 USD
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Bound to Go: SATB Choral Octavo

Bound to Go: SATB Choral Octavo

Words based on a spiritual from St. Helena Island, South Carolina, words and music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-31104
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Description
Don't miss this new walking-tempo spiritual, inspired by the songs of the South Carolina Sea Islands. Powerful message with optional solos and descant. Appropriate for school or church choirs. Accompaniment included on PianoTrax 1 CD (00-31028).

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Bound to Go: SATB Choral Octavo 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 Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081338767
SKU: 00-31104

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. His career spans both the publishing industry, where he spent eight years managing rights and licenses and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America, and composition, where he has published more than 800 choral works performed across the English-speaking world.

Althouse's contributions to music education extend far beyond his compositions. He has collaborated with his wife, Sally K. Albrecht, on several children's musicals and vocal collections, co-authored widely used resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and created classroom materials such as Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. As a member of ASCAP, he is a frequent recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. He serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and has contributed articles to the Folk Art Messenger. Based in North Carolina, Althouse has been active in his community's choral music scene.

Why we love this

Althouse crafts this spiritual with the authenticity and accessibility that define his catalog. The walking tempo invites natural phrasing and emotional connection, while the optional solos and descant give you genuine flexibility for different choir strengths and concert needs. A piece this singable and programmable belongs on every director's shelf.

What to expect

Inspired by the rich musical heritage of the South Carolina Sea Islands, this spiritual carries the weight of its message with quiet dignity. The walking tempo creates space for reflection, while the melody's contours invite singers to pour conviction into every phrase.

Who it's for

This octavo works equally well for school choirs seeking repertoire with social and spiritual depth and for church choirs wanting contemporary sacred music rooted in tradition. The optional solo and descant passages let you tailor the piece to your singers' abilities and your program's scope.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the spiritual's gentle forward momentum in rehearsal without rushing. A walking pace should feel unhurried and contemplative, not sluggish.
  • Shape the descant with care; it should enhance the main melody, not overshadow it. Balance is essential, especially in climactic measures where both lines carry weight.
  • If featuring solo voices, rehearse them separately first so soloists feel secure before blending with the full choir.
  • Use the PianoTrax accompaniment to anchor rhythm during early rehearsals, then gradually reduce reliance on the track as the choir's internal pulse strengthens.

How to use it

Program this as the emotional centerpiece of a concert exploring American sacred music, or place it alongside other spirituals to create a thematic set. Its accessibility and powerful text make it equally suitable for community concerts, school assembly programs, or Sunday services.

Skills your students will build

  • Phrasing in spiritual style, maintaining legit vowels across longer phrases
  • Balancing optional descant with main melodic line
  • Solo confidence and ensemble awareness (for singers taking optional solo parts)
  • Expression and interpretation of text with conviction

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