Get on Board This Train: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Besig and Price have crafted something genuinely joyful here, not forced or saccharine. The combination of two beloved spirituals with a rhythmic speech choir section gives your singers multiple entry points and keeps the energy moving, while the recorded accompaniment on the included SoundTrax CD makes learning and performance accessible even for less experienced groups.

Warm, spirited, and propulsive, like a train gathering steam. The combination of familiar spirituals with rhythmic spoken-word interludes creates a sense of forward motion and celebration, inviting singers to feel the joy of the song even as they're learning it.

This piece works beautifully for middle school and high school choirs seeking accessible gospel arrangements with built-in fun factor. Church choirs and community singing groups will also find the spiritual tradition and simple 2-part writing inviting and singable.

• Establish the rhythmic precision of the speech choir section in early rehearsals; the 'clickety clack' onomatopoeia works best when the articulation is clean and unified across the ensemble.
• Balance the two melodic lines carefully so neither spiritual overpowers the other. The piece gains its charm from hearing both folk melodies woven together rather than one dominating.
• Use the SoundTrax accompaniment in rehearsal to lock the tempo and phrasing, then work toward a rehearsal-only run-through to build ensemble confidence before full dress rehearsals.
• Consider subtle staging that suggests train movement during the speech section; the kinetic energy of the text invites physical commitment without requiring elaborate choreography.

Program this as a concert opener or closer to set an uplifting, joyful tone. It pairs well with other spirituals or gospel-influenced pieces and offers a natural contrast to more serious choral selections, making it ideal for family-friendly concerts or community gatherings where accessibility and warmth matter.

• Singing in 2-part harmony with independence between lines
• Rhythmic precision in speech choir sections
• Stylistic interpretation of gospel and spiritual idioms
• Ensemble balance and blend between melodic lines
• Performing with recorded accompaniment