Bound to Go Cover Image

Bound to Go: SAB Choral Octavo

$1.75 USD
$1.75 USD
Skip to product information
Bound to Go Cover Image
Bound to Go: SAB Choral Octavo

Bound to Go: SAB Choral Octavo

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

Item: 00-31105
makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$1.75
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Bound to Go: PianoTrax Digital Download

$9.99
View

Bound to Go: SATB Choral Octavo

$1.75
View

Bound to Go: SAB Choral Octavo

$1.75
View
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: SAB Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081338774
SKU: 00-31105

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 earned the Distinguished Alumni award. His work spans both composition and music publishing; he spent eight years in rights and licensing administration at a major educational publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award.

With more than 800 choral works in print, Althouse has established himself as a prolific voice in American choral music, performed widely across English-speaking countries. Beyond composition, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and authored or co-authored instructional resources such as The Complete Choral Warm-up Book, Accent on Composers, and Ready to Read Music. His choral work I Hear America Singing, written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Althouse resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

Althouse captures the spiritual essence of Sea Island song traditions in a straightforward walking tempo that lets the text and melody breathe without overshadowing your singers. The optional solo and descant lines give you flexibility to feature strong voices while keeping the arrangement accessible for mixed choirs of varying experience levels. This is the kind of repertoire that connects students to authentic American musical heritage while sounding genuinely moving in performance.

What to expect

A spiritual rooted in the musical wisdom of the South Carolina Sea Islands, with a steady walking tempo that feels grounded and purposeful. The melody and harmony carry the quiet power of songs passed down through community and memory, honest and unadorned.

Who it's for

School choirs and church choirs seeking authentic spiritual literature that connects singers to American musical traditions. The SAB voicing works well for developing choirs, youth ensembles, or mixed groups where you need flexibility in part doubling or solo assignment.

How to get the most out of it

  • Honor the spiritual's historical roots by maintaining a steady, unhurried walking pulse; resist the urge to push the tempo even as momentum builds.
  • Balance the SAB voicing so the soprano line doesn't dominate; Sea Island spirituals rely on the interplay of all three parts to create their characteristic warmth.
  • If you feature the optional solos, give singers time in rehearsal to develop their phrasing and emotional connection to the text; this isn't a showcase moment but an extension of the choir's voice.
  • Use the PianoTrax accompaniment to establish the harmonic foundation and groove during early rehearsals, then gradually reduce dependency so singers can feel the spiritual's internal pulse.

How to use it

Program this alongside other spirituals or American folk repertoire to build a thematic concert block celebrating African American musical heritage. The accessible SAB voicing and optional features make it suitable for spring concerts, church services, or educational performances focused on roots music and cultural connection.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing spirituals with authentic phrasing and historical awareness
  • Balancing three-part harmony in SAB voicing
  • Sustaining a steady, unhurried tempo without rushing
  • Interpreting optional solo and descant lines expressively within an ensemble context

You May Also Like