Crossing the U.S.A.: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$29.98 USD

Crossing the U.S.A.: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Going to Boston * Red River Valley * Rocky Mountain * Sweet Betsy from Pike

Arr. Mary Donnelly & George L. O. Strid

Item: 00-A-00015942

$29.98

Digital Download

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

SKU: 00-A-00015942

More about this title

About the Arranger: Mary Donnelly

Mary Donnelly's path to choral music education began in her native Reno, Nevada, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and French at the University of Nevada, Reno. While still an undergraduate, she founded two children's choruses, discovering a passion for music teaching that led her back to graduate study at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she earned a Master's Degree in Education with a focus on integrating the arts across the curriculum.

Donnelly spent three decades teaching general music and choir in the Washoe County School District, retiring after a career devoted to making music accessible to young singers. In 1985, she began collaborating with George L. O. Strid when their principal challenged them to write a musical for Reading Week. That initial project launched a prolific partnership: together they have created over two hundred songs and twenty-five musicals. She holds memberships in ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP.

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Why we love this

Donnelly and Strid understand what middle school and elementary choirs actually sing well. This arrangement strips away pretension while keeping the Americana spirit intact, letting your singers connect with the text and tune without technical barriers getting in the way. It's the kind of piece that sounds substantial in performance while remaining genuinely manageable in rehearsal.

What to expect

Crossing the U.S.A. captures the openness and momentum of travel, with accessible melodic writing that captures genuine warmth without sentimentality. The arrangement invites singers to feel the scope of the journey while staying rooted in a comfortable, singable range.

Who it's for

This recording is built for choir directors programming Americana, folk traditions, or Americana-inspired contemporary repertoire. It works equally well in concert settings or as part of a thematic program exploring American music and culture.

How to get the most out of it

Build the energy gradually across sections rather than starting at full volume; the journey across America works better as a narrative arc than a sprint.
Let the recorded accompaniment establish the rhythmic pocket first in rehearsals; once your singers feel confident tracking the audio, remove it selectively to build independence.
Balance the parts so the melody sits clear without drowning out the harmonic movement underneath; Donnelly and Strid's arrangements reward careful blend work.

How to use it

Feature this piece as an anchor in a concert exploring regional American music or cultural traditions. Its approachable style and recorded accompaniment option make it ideal for spring concerts where you want a substantial but energetic closer, or pair it with other folk-based arrangements for a thematic first half.