Hallelujah: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: Hallelujah: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-LG51272
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. Robert DeCormier

Item: 00-LG51272

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Lawson-Gould Music Publishers

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 783556004615

SKU: 00-LG51272

More about this title

About the Arranger: Robert DeCormier

Robert DeCormier studied at Juilliard and built a career spanning classical conducting, Broadway, opera, and American folk music. He served as music director of the New York Choral Society for seventeen years, worked as conductor and arranger for Harry Belafonte, and held the position of music director for Peter, Paul and Mary from 1978 until 2010. He also taught conducting and ensembles at the Eastman School of Music from 1972 to 1977.

Beyond the concert hall, DeCormier founded the professional vocal ensemble Counterpoint in 2000, which recorded six albums and brought workshops and concerts to high school choirs throughout New England and beyond. His arranging work focused on African-American spirituals, American folk songs, and international repertoire. He received the Vermont Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2002 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Choral Arts Foundation in 2006.

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Why we love this

DeCormier's hands-on experience directing professional vocal ensembles and working with high school choirs informs every phrase of this arrangement. The writing balances accessibility with musical substance, giving singers a genuine spiritual experience rather than a simplified version. This is the work of someone who knows what choirs can do and what moves audiences.

What to expect

The a cappella setting creates an intimate, resonant sound that lets the text and melody carry full weight. The four-part writing moves with clarity and purpose, building moments of harmonic richness without losing the essential simplicity that makes the spiritual endure. This is music that invites listeners into something sacred.

Who it's for

This octavo works for advanced high school choirs, college ensembles, and community choirs with solid musicianship and blend. Directors seeking repertoire that honors the spiritual tradition while offering genuine musical challenge will find this arrangement rewarding for both singers and audiences.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening phrases without excessive vibrato; let the a cappella texture speak with clarity and directness.
Build the dynamic arc gradually across the piece, resisting the urge to jump to full volume too early.
Pay attention to vowel alignment across all four parts, especially in the sustained passages where blend becomes audible.
Treat the spiritual as both a deeply felt expression and a structured musical statement; avoid sentimentality that undermines the arrangement's integrity.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert focused on spiritual traditions, or pair it with other sacred repertoire for a thematic set. The twelve-page octavo works equally well as a contest selection or as a meaningful addition to a concert celebrating African-American choral heritage.