Great Day!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Name: Great Day!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-39722
Price: 27.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Traditional Spiritual / arr., with additional words, by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-39722

$27.99

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"Great Day, the righteous marching." This rousing, masterful arrangement drives with fortitude and martial energy. Features two solos and optional percussion. Snare drum part included, or download free snare drum, bass drum, and cymbal parts at alfred.com/choralparts.

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

UPC: 038081443836

SKU: 00-39722

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 later honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. His career spans both the publishing side of music education and composition; he spent eight years managing rights and licensing for a major educational publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.

As a choral composer, Althouse has published over 800 works performed widely across English-speaking countries. He holds membership in ASCAP and has received the organization's Special Award multiple times for his compositions. Beyond his own works, he has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on children's musicals, curated influential vocal solo collections, and authored essential music education resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His choral composition "I Hear America Singing," co-written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. Althouse has served on the boards of the North Carolina Master Chorale and the Folk Art Society of America.

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Why we love this

Althouse's arrangement captures the spiritual's driving energy without sacrificing the text's dignity or accessibility. The two solo opportunities and optional percussion parts give you flexibility for different choir sizes and ability levels, while the recorded accompaniment lets smaller programs deliver a polished sound without requiring a pianist.

What to expect

Righteous determination and jubilation animate every phrase. The arrangement walks a careful line between reverent restraint and celebratory vigor, with rhythmic momentum that feels inevitable rather than forced. You'll feel the spiritual's call-and-response DNA while experiencing something fresh and theatrically satisfying.

Who it's for

This octavo works beautifully for high school and college choirs seeking repertoire that combines accessibility with authentic spiritual tradition. It also suits community choruses and church choirs wanting an arrangement that honors the genre while delivering theatrical impact and performance flexibility.

How to get the most out of it

Emphasize the martial character through crisp articulation and sustained vowels; this piece thrives on rhythmic precision and forward momentum.
Balance the two solos carefully with the full choir so they feel like natural peaks in the narrative rather than interruptions.
If using percussion, rehearse the snare and bass drum parts (available free at alfred.com/choralparts) with the rhythm section early to lock the groove.
The recorded accompaniment allows you to focus rehearsal time on blend, phrasing, and text expression; use it strategically as singers gain confidence.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a spirituals-focused concert or as a powerful contrast within a mixed repertoire program. Its length and energy make it an excellent closer for a set, where the martial propulsion and dual solos can leave audiences energized without overshadowing what comes before.