Follow the Drinking Gourd: TTB Choral Octavo
Traditional Spiritual / arr. Victor C. Johnson
Item: 00-PO-0006453
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Related Items
Follow the Drinking Gourd: PianoTrax Digital Audio Download |
$9.99
|
View | |
Follow the Drinking Gourd: SATB Choral Octavo |
$2.05
|
View | |
Follow the Drinking Gourd: SAB Choral Octavo |
$2.05
|
View | |
Follow the Drinking Gourd: SATB Choral Octavo |
$2.05
|
View | |
Follow the Drinking Gourd: SAB Choral Octavo |
$2.05
|
View | |
Follow the Drinking Gourd: TTB Choral Octavo |
$2.05
|
View |
Description
Victor Johnson's driving setting of the traditional African-American spiritual conveys a sense of urgency that builds from beginning to end, including a dramatic optional descant in the final chorus. A hardy piano accompaniment propels the arrangement and supports the syncopated singers, who are fully harmonized in all voicings.
Follow the Drinking Gourd: TTB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006453
More about this title
About the Arranger: Victor C Johnson
Victor C Johnson brings decades of choral leadership to his work as composer and arranger. Based in Dallas, Texas, he has shaped the musical lives of young singers through his tenure directing choirs at Ft. Worth Academy of Fine Arts and through his ongoing work with the Dallas Symphony Children's Chorus, where he serves as conductor of the mixed ensemble for high school students. His catalog exceeds 500 published works across choral, vocal solo, and keyboard genres.
As School Choral Editor for Sing!, the educational publishing division of Choristers Guild, Johnson applies his deep understanding of what works in rehearsal and performance. His involvement with major music education organizations including the American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education reflects his commitment to advancing choral artistry at all levels.
Why we love this
Johnson captures the spiritual's historical urgency without losing its profound humanity. The arrangement's building intensity and syncopated writing keep singers and audiences engaged, while the optional descant provides flexibility for programming strength and adds a thrilling climax. The piano accompaniment is genuinely supportive rather than decorative, making this a conductor's arrangement that respects both the singers' voices and the song's legacy.
What to expect
The piece pulses with purpose, drawing listeners into the song's historical resonance while keeping the energy moving forward. Johnson's syncopated rhythms and driving accompaniment create kinetic tension that builds steadily, transforming a spiritual into a concert moment that feels both urgent and deeply felt.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for treble or lower voice choirs in grades 7 and up, and for adult singing groups seeking spirituals with contemporary harmonic currency. Performers at all levels appreciate how Johnson honors the traditional melody while offering modern arranging craft that rewards careful preparation.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a steady pulse in the opening measures; the syncopated writing will feel secure when the rhythmic foundation is rock solid.
- Balance the harmony across all three voice parts during the fully voiced passages. Resisting the tendency to anchor on the melody line will reveal Johnson's sophisticated voicing choices.
- Shape the dynamic arc carefully from beginning to end. Mark your cues and expected arrival points so the gradual building doesn't plateau before the final chorus.
- If including the optional descant, rehearse it separately first, then in combination with the final chorus to ensure clean entrances and clear independence.
How to use it
Program this early in a concert to establish energy and engagement, or reserve it for a spiritual-themed set where its dramatic trajectory anchors the programming. The optional descant makes it equally effective as a standalone closing statement on a concert devoted to African-American music and culture.
Skills your students will build
- Reading syncopated rhythms and maintaining precision against a driving accompaniment
- Balancing three-part harmony with attention to inner voices
- Sustaining dynamic growth over an entire piece
- Understanding historical context and cultural sensitivity in spiritual arrangement and performance