Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 1 (Medium High Voice): Digital Audio Download

$16.99 USD

Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 1 (Medium High Voice): Digital Audio Download

11 Folk Songs Arranged for Solo Voice and Piano... For Recitals, Concerts, and Contests

Ed. Jay Althouse

Item: 00-AA-0000267

$16.99

Digital Download

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1 01 Amazing Grace --:--

2 02 Greensleeves --:--

3 03 Liza Jane --:--

01 Amazing Grace

No sample videos found.

Series: For Solo Singers

Publisher: Alfred Music

SKU: 00-AA-0000267

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse studied Music Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned both a B.S. and M.Ed., later receiving the institution's Distinguished Alumni award. He spent eight years managing rights and licensing for a major educational music publisher, serving on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that tenure.

As a composer, Althouse has created more than 800 choral works performed throughout the English-speaking world and holds ASCAP membership with multiple Special Awards for his compositions. Beyond original works, he has compiled and arranged numerous vocal solo collections, co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, and authored several classroom resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His collaborative work with Albrecht, I Hear America Singing, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Althouse currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

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Why we love this

Althouse brings decades of experience curating vocal repertoire to this collection, selecting folk material that sits naturally for medium-high voices without requiring extensive transposition or modification. The accompaniments balance accessibility with musicality, allowing singers to focus on interpretation rather than technical survival. This is repertoire that singers actually want to perform.

What to expect

These arrangements honor the simplicity and emotional directness of folk tradition while providing sophisticated harmonic support that feels contemporary. The medium-high voice sits comfortably in most pieces, allowing singers to focus on storytelling and musicality rather than technical strain.

Who it's for

This collection serves singers working toward recital repertoire, voice students building a diverse solo portfolio, and teachers seeking accessible folk material for upper-voice singers. Community singers and amateur vocalists looking for songs that blend cultural authenticity with contemporary performance standards will find genuine value here.

How to get the most out of it

Explore the historical context of each folk song before rehearsing. Understanding the song's origin and cultural significance enriches interpretation and helps you find authentic phrasing.
Use the digital audio download to hear professional interpretations, then set those aside and find your own approach. Let the accompaniment guide your tempo, but trust your musicality in shaping the melody.
Pay attention to the text and lyrical meaning. Folk songs often carry stories that should shape how you color specific phrases and where you breathe naturally.

How to use it

Program one or two selections from this collection alongside more formal classical art songs to show the breadth of vocal literature available to your singer. These pieces work beautifully as encores or as part of a recital set exploring American and international folk traditions, and they pair well with period instrument or guitar accompaniment if you choose to customize your performance setup.