Follow the Drinking Gourd: SAB Choral Octavo
Arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0002061
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
An exceptional arrangement of the traditional African-American folk song pertaining to the Big Dipper (the "Drinking Gourd") and how it points north t freedom. Features solid choral writing with a haunting piano accompaniment. Comfortable ranges, no solos, no divisi. Good for multi-cultural programs.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0002061
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni award. His career spans both publishing and composition; he spent eight years as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, Althouse has over 800 choral works in print across all levels, performed extensively throughout the English-speaking world. He holds membership in ASCAP and is a regular recipient of the organization's Special Award.
Beyond composition, Althouse has contributed substantially to choral pedagogy and music education literature. He co-authored The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers with his wife, Sally K. Albrecht, and compiled and arranged several respected vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers. He has also written classroom resources such as Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, and One-Page Composer Bios. Notably, he co-wrote I Hear America Singing with Albrecht, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Althouse currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Why we love this
Althouse's arrangement honors the spiritual weight of this Underground Railroad song while keeping technical demands reasonable for developing choirs. The piano accompaniment carries remarkable emotional depth, grounding the piece without overwhelming three-part singers. Directors appreciate the accessible ranges and the absence of solos or divisi writing, which means your entire section can blend as one voice telling this powerful story.
What to expect
The piece settles into your singers' voices with quiet dignity. Althouse's piano writing creates a somber, reflective atmosphere that respects the song's historical gravity while the three-part texture allows each voice to contribute meaningfully to the whole.
Who it's for
This arrangement works well for middle school and high school choirs, as well as community and adult choirs seeking meaningful repertoire with manageable ranges. It pairs perfectly with multicultural programming or units exploring American history and social justice through music.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a steady, unhurried tempo that allows the text to land clearly. The strength of this arrangement lies in its directness, not in rushing the narrative.
- Balance the piano accompaniment so it frames rather than competes with the voices. The haunting quality the composer describes depends on careful dynamic control between sections.
- Pay attention to vowel consistency within each voice part, especially during sustained passages. This supports the unified, grounded sound the piece demands.
- Consider how the arrangement's spiritual character calls for intentional phrasing and breath placement. Let the text's meaning guide your musical choices.
How to use it
Program this alongside other spirituals or folk traditions to create a thematic concert set exploring music's role in cultural heritage and resistance. It also serves as an effective teaching moment when studying American history, particularly the courage embedded in African-American musical traditions.
Skills your students will build
- Blending sustained vowels across three-part harmony
- Interpreting text with historical and cultural awareness
- Responding to piano accompaniment while maintaining independent voice lines
- Singing with expressive restraint and emotional authenticity