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-PO-0000792
$1.75
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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).
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000792
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 honored as a Distinguished Alumni. His work in music publishing included eight years as a rights and licenses administrator and service on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, he has more than 800 choral works in print performed widely across English-speaking regions, and he regularly receives ASCAP Special Awards recognizing his contributions to standard choral repertoire.
Beyond composition, Althouse has co-authored vocal solo collections, including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on multiple children's musicals and the well-known resource books The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. He serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and contributes to its scholarly publications. His interest in folk traditions and accessible music education has shaped both his creative output and his work with classroom materials designed to build musicians' foundational skills.
Why we love this
Althouse brings the authentic rhythmic and melodic language of the Sea Islands into an arrangement that respects the spiritual tradition while remaining thoroughly teachable. The optional solos and descant give you natural ways to feature singers at different levels without forcing anyone into the spotlight, and the walking tempo sits comfortably for most ensembles to access both the groove and the message.
What to expect
The walking tempo creates forward momentum without rushing, anchoring the spiritual's reflective yet resolute quality. The Sea Islands tradition comes through in the harmonic language and rhythmic feel, giving singers a genuine connection to a living musical legacy rather than a museum piece.
Who it's for
School and church choirs at the intermediate level will find this SAB octavo accessible and meaningful. The flexible solo writing makes it workable for groups with strong individual singers or for those still building confidence in featured roles.
How to get the most out of it
- Anchor the rhythm section early in rehearsal so singers feel the pulse before layering the descant and solos; the walking tempo only works when everyone is grounded in the same beat.
- Work the text for its emotional weight separately from the music. This spiritual carries a powerful message, and singers who understand what they're conveying will shape phrases with conviction rather than surface prettiness.
- Feature singers who volunteer for solos; the optional nature of these parts means you're casting from genuine interest, which almost always produces more authentic performances.
How to use it
This works beautifully on a concert that explores American sacred music or folk traditions, and its spiritual dignity makes it equally at home in a church service or a school assembly. The combination of accessibility and substance means it can anchor a choral program without demanding an unrealistic rehearsal investment.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in SAB voicing with secure part independence
- Interpreting spiritual traditions authentically
- Sustaining a consistent pulse in a moderate walking tempo
- Balancing featured solos or descant against the main voice parts
- Text-based expression and emotional communication