Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit: SATB divisi, a cappella Choral Octavo
Arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PO-0004222
$3.50
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A new classic spiritual arrangement from one of the finest choral arrangers of our era, Mark Hayes. If you're familiar with Mark's work, then perhaps little more needs to be said. The harmonies are traditional with the underlying power of the spiritual and a strong modulation creating the excitement. There are brief solos (for both high and low voices) on several of the verses. This arrangement will make your SATB choir sound its very best at concerts and adjudications. An excellent festival choice, too.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
20
SKU:
00-PO-0004222
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes stands among the most prolific and versatile voices in sacred and secular choral music, with over 1,750 published works spanning concert piano, orchestration, arrangement, and composition. A summa cum laude graduate in piano performance from Baylor University, he has conducted world premieres at Lincoln Center and beyond, including his monumental Requiem at the Vatican in 2014. His work spans choral literature, musical theater orchestration and composition, and an extensive catalog of piano music that ranges from classical to gospel to jazz.
Hayes has received major commissions from institutions worldwide, including St. Paul's Co-educational College in Hong Kong for their centennial celebration. In 2010, Baylor University honored him with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music. Whether composing sacred masterworks or arranging spirituals and hymns, Hayes brings both technical sophistication and emotional authenticity to every project, establishing himself as a trusted voice in music education and concert performance.
Why we love this
Hayes's arrangement respects the spiritual's roots while delivering the kind of harmonic sophistication and vocal writing that makes concert performances soar. The strategic use of divisi parts and brief solo passages gives singers individual moments to shine, yet the piece never fragments the choir's unified sound at critical moments. You'll hear why directors return to his work again and again: it sounds substantial on stage, rewards careful rehearsal, and never condescends to the ensemble performing it.
What to expect
The familiar melody anchors you immediately, but Hayes's harmonies deepen and expand the spiritual's emotional landscape. Moments of divisional richness give way to moments of unity, and the modulation arrives with genuine excitement rather than as a technical flourish. This is music that honors tradition while reminding singers and listeners why spirituals endure.
Who it's for
This octavo works for any SATB choir with secure blend and modest solo comfort. It suits festival competitions, concert programs seeking meaningful sacred work, and church settings where you want accessible spiritual literature with real artistic substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the brief solos (both soprano and lower voice lines) so they sit naturally within the harmonic texture rather than popping out; these passages work best when they feel like part of the choral whole.
- Use the modulation as your structural anchor in rehearsal. Mark the key change clearly in your score and prepare singers to adjust their intonation and vowel placement as the harmonic color shifts.
- Shape the phrase arcs with attention to the spiritual's narrative. This piece has emotional weight; avoid a generic, note-perfect approach in favor of one that honors the genre's depth.
How to use it
Open a sacred concert with this piece to establish both accessibility and musical substance from the outset. Its 20 pages and moderate difficulty fit well in a mixed program where you want to pair it with contrasting contemporary work or with other traditional spirituals arranged at different levels. It also shines as a festival entry where judges appreciate both stylistic authenticity and skilled writing.
Skills your students will build
- Blending SATB divisi voicing without losing harmonic clarity
- Singing solo passages within an ensemble context
- Adjusting intonation and vowel color across key changes
- Interpreting the spiritual tradition with emotional authenticity
- Shaping long phrases with attention to harmonic function