Ezekiel Saw the Wheel: SATB divisi, a cappella Choral Octavo
Arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PO-0004331
$3.50
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Bring the house down with this spectacular rendition of the widely-known Ezekiel Saw the Wheel by one of the most skilled arrangers of our time. Mark Hayes opens with a slow, soulful introduction and then begins to develop the traditional spiritual as only he can. Each section grows more and more thrilling as Mark delivers the kind of varied textures, dynamics, secondary themes, and harmonies that modern choirs have come to love. A challenging a cappella spiritual that is well worth the effort!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
20
SKU:
00-PO-0004331
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes has established himself as one of the most prolific and versatile musicians in American choral music. With over 1,750 published works across multiple genres, he holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Baylor University and has served as guest conductor at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall. His compositional breadth spans sacred choral works (Te Deum, Magnificat, Gloria, Requiem), musical theater scores, orchestrations, and an extensive catalog of piano literature ranging from gospel to classical to jazz.
Beyond his work as a composer and arranger, Hayes has shaped sacred music education through commissions and world premieres on stages from New York to Rome to Hong Kong. Baylor University honored him in 2010 with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music. His arrangements have become standard repertoire in American choirs because they honor the spiritual traditions they draw from while offering the sophisticated harmonic language and textural variety that contemporary ensembles demand.
Why we love this
Hayes demonstrates his signature approach here: starting from a familiar spiritual and building it into something unexpected. The 20-page score reveals a master of pacing and texture who understands exactly how much voices can handle without stepping into accompanied territory. Choirs consistently report that the journey of this arrangement, from introspective opening to thrilling climax, gives them a complete emotional and musical arc to perform.
What to expect
The piece unfolds like a call rising from deep places. Hayes sets up intimate, soulful territory in the opening before gradually revealing layers of harmony and secondary themes that transform the familiar melody into something richer and more complex. The journey from quiet introspection to full ensemble power creates genuine uplift without ever losing the spiritual's grounded, authentic character.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves choirs with solid sight-reading skills and the vocal stamina for an extended unaccompanied work. Directors seeking a spiritual that demands ensemble cohesion and artistic maturity, rather than relying on accompaniment or familiar melodies to carry the performance, will find their ensemble engaged and challenged.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening section with restraint and genuine softness. The contrast between the slow introduction and the subsequent developments depends on your establishment of vulnerability at the start.
- Balance the divisi passages carefully through rehearsal, ensuring that sectional doublings reinforce without muddying. Mark the parts clearly to show singers which voice they're carrying in divided sections.
- Build dynamics gradually across the entire piece rather than jumping to full volume at the exciting moments. The 'more and more thrilling' character depends on strategic release of energy.
- Mark strategic breath points in both parts and the full ensemble sections. A cappella spirituals demand coordinated breathing to maintain line and momentum.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a concert closer or as the centerpiece of a program exploring American sacred music traditions. It also pairs well with other spirituals or art songs that benefit from being programmed after a piece that demonstrates your choir's unaccompanied vocal capabilities. The substantial length and emotional weight make it suitable for a full choral concert or special liturgical event.
Skills your students will build
- Singing sustained, blended lines without accompaniment support
- Managing divisi voicing across four parts with independent harmonic material
- Interpreting dynamic and textural nuance in extended unaccompanied passages
- Phrasing spiritual repertoire with both technical precision and stylistic authenticity
- Coordinating ensemble breathing and entry points in a cappella contexts