Goin' to Bethlehem: SSAB, a cappella Choral Octavo
Words and music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0002872
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This exciting original Christmas spiritual by Jay Althouse opens with the men stating the rhythmic theme, followed by the middle voices and finally the sopranos. The three verses include much repetition but plenty of surprises-including a women's section contrasted by the men, and an optional high descant on the driving finish. A fresh new work that's solidly rooted in the classic spiritual traditions. An Althouse winner and a must for your holiday concerts!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0002872
More about this title
About the Composer: 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 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 created more than 800 choral works performed internationally across all choir levels. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award.
Beyond composition, Althouse has contributed significantly to music education and culture. He co-wrote several children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and authored The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His educational resources for classrooms include Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, and One-Page Composer Bios. Althouse served on the board of the North Carolina Master Chorale and currently advises the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse's gift for spiritual writing shines here: the layered entrance of parts creates both structural clarity and musical momentum that students feel immediately. The balance of repetition and surprise keeps singers engaged while the piece remains accessible, and the optional descant gives you a built-in way to feature your strongest singers without complicating the core arrangement.
What to expect
A cappella singing with forward momentum and spiritual warmth. The piece builds from contemplative to celebratory, rooted in the call-and-response tradition but with modern harmonic color and unexpected textural shifts that keep listeners leaning in.
Who it's for
Holiday choirs seeking contemporary spirituals that honor tradition while offering fresh arrangements for singers at the intermediate level. This works equally well in church choirs, school ensembles, and community vocal groups that want accessible material with real musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the men's opening rhythmic statement with clarity and drive; this sets the spiritual foundation that the middle voices and sopranos then build upon.
- Bring out the textural contrast between the women's section and men's response, treating them as distinct musical personalities rather than the same material restated.
- Support the descant singers with a solid harmonic base from the lower voices; the optional high line only soars when the foundation is secure.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for your Christmas or Epiphany service or concert, where it can stand on its own or pair beautifully with other spirituals or seasonal works. The driving finish makes it a strong closing number that leaves audiences energized rather than reflective.
Skills your students will build
- Layered part entry and awareness of how individual lines combine into harmonic texture
- Call-and-response phrasing and the rhythmic precision spirituals demand
- A cappella intonation, especially in three-part mixed voicing
- Interpretive choices in dynamic contrast between sections (women versus men)
- Optional descant singing for advanced vocalists