Cantate Domino: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0002940
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
An exciting choral work mixing traditional Latin with a fresh, new English text. The strong rhythmic pulse of the opening and closing melody contrasts with a chant-like middle section. For choirs of all ages at any time of the year. Powerful!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0002940
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse studied Music Education and Music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. His career spans composition, publishing administration, and music education; he served eight years as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational publisher and held a position on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.
With over 800 choral works in print across all levels, Althouse has established himself as a prolific voice in choral literature performed globally. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond composing, he has co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections, authored influential books including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and contributed to music education through reproducible classroom resources. He has served on the board of the North Carolina Master Chorale and currently advises the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse captures the drama of contrasting textures within a single piece, giving your choir a complete arc without requiring multiple works. The blend of rhythmic vitality and meditative chant creates natural dynamic variety that keeps singers engaged and audiences invested, while the bilingual text adds dignity and accessibility at once.
What to expect
The opening grabs attention with propulsive rhythmic momentum, then pivots into contemplative space where the voices layer like bells in a cathedral. You emerge from that stillness back into brightness, leaving the listener suspended between energy and reflection.
Who it's for
Any choir with singers in grades 5 and up will find the 3-part writing accessible and rewarding. The piece works equally well for school choirs, community ensembles, and church choirs seeking sacred music that engages both performers and listeners.
How to get the most out of it
- Emphasize the rhythmic precision of the opening and closing sections to establish the piece's driving energy; use subdivision in early rehearsals to lock the pulse before removing it.
- Shape the chant-like middle section with long, sustained phrases and minimal breath; think of it as one musical gesture rather than separate bars.
- Explore the staging suggestions in the score to add visual interest; even simple movement during the contrasting sections helps singers feel the structural shifts.
- Balance the Latin and English text by matching vowel resonance between languages; this unifies the sound across the text switches.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece in any concert calendar, sacred or secular, since it stands alone musically and seasonally flexible. Pair it with lighter works before it to show off the contrast, or follow it with pieces in a similar reflective vein to deepen the moment.
Skills your students will build
- Singing accurate rhythmic patterns with a strong pulse (opening and closing sections)
- Sustaining long phrases with proper breath management (chant-like middle section)
- Balancing mixed voice parts in close harmony
- Executing seamless language switching between Latin and English text
- Responding to staging and movement cues while maintaining vocal focus