Follow the Drinking Gourd (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 Cover Image

Follow the Drinking Gourd (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

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Follow the Drinking Gourd (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 Cover Image
Follow the Drinking Gourd (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Follow the Drinking Gourd (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

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

Althouse

Item: 00-A-00015911
$4.99
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Additional Details
Series: For Solo Singers
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00015911

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later honored with the Distinguished Alumni award. His work in music publishing spanned eight years, during which he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. He is a prolific composer with more than 800 choral works in print across all difficulty levels, performed widely throughout English-speaking countries.

Althouse's contributions extend beyond composition to arranging and educational writing. He has compiled and arranged widely used vocal solo collections, including the Folk Songs for Solo Singers series, and co-authored foundational texts such as The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His collaborative works with Sally K. Albrecht include children's musicals and I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. As a writer member of ASCAP and regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award, Althouse has also served the folk music community through his work with the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

Althouse's arrangement honors the narrative power of this spiritual without obscuring its historical weight. The medium-high tessitura sits comfortably for most singers while maintaining the song's dignity, and the SoundTrax accompaniment lets soloists focus on storytelling rather than managing piano technique. Recital singers and contest entrants value arrangements that feel substantial yet accessible.

What to expect

The arrangement balances intimacy with historical gravity. Althouse's setting lets the spiritual's coded language and emotional depth come through while the digital accompaniment provides secure harmonic and rhythmic support, creating space for the singer's interpretation to emerge.

Who it's for

Medium-high voice soloists preparing for recitals or vocal competitions will find this arrangement accessible without feeling simplified. The tessitura suits soprano and tenor voices, as well as mezzo-sopranos and baritones seeking a well-crafted solo with cultural resonance.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the text drive your phrasing. This song carries urgent meaning (the Drinking Gourd as celestial map for freedom seekers), so treat each phrase as a communication rather than a vocal display.
  • Work with the accompaniment early to internalize the harmonic foundation, then pull away from it occasionally to own the melody and lyrical weight on your own.
  • Pay attention to dynamic shape within phrases rather than holding a single volume throughout. The song's narrative arc requires breathing room and contrast.

How to use it

This works as a standalone recital piece or as part of a larger program exploring American folk traditions and spirituals. Its accessibility and cultural significance make it suitable for both formal competitions and community performance settings where storytelling is valued.

Skills your students will build

  • Narrative song interpretation and text-based phrasing
  • Singing spiritual and folk idioms with historical awareness
  • Balancing vocal technique with expressive storytelling
  • Working confidently with digital accompaniment tracks

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