He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother Cover Image

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$27.99 USD
$27.99 USD
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He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother Cover Image
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Arr. Jay Althouse

Item: 00-12298
$27.99
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Description
An exceptional song of brotherhood skillfully arranged by Jay Althouse. Opens with an optional alto solo and builds with strong choral writing, closing with a soft, final statement of the title. Use it as an inspirational piece the year 'round, including graduation. If you liked "Let There Be Peace On Earth," you'll love HE AIN'T HEAVY, HE IS MY BROTHER.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081118956
SKU: 00-12298

More about this title

About the Arranger: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later recognized with the Distinguished Alumni award. His career spans both publishing administration (eight years in rights and licenses at a major educational music publisher, including Executive Board service with the Music Publishers Association of America) and prolific composition; he has over 800 choral works in print and is widely performed across English-speaking countries.

As a writer member of ASCAP, Althouse is a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his compositional achievements. Beyond choral writing, he has co-created children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, and authored or co-authored pedagogical resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book, Accent on Composers, and classroom reproducibles. His work extends to concert music of national significance, including the choral composition I Hear America Singing, which he co-wrote with Albrecht and was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration.

Why we love this

Althouse's arrangement respects the song's emotional core while building it with deliberate choral architecture. The optional alto solo gives you flexibility for featuring a strong vocalist or maintaining full ensemble texture, and the soft closing provides a moment of genuine reflection that lands differently than the opening energy.

What to expect

The piece opens quietly, almost vulnerably, with the alto's solo voice introducing the melody before the choir joins. As voices layer in, there's a quiet gathering of support and warmth, building toward a moment of collective affirmation before pulling back into the softer, more intimate close.

Who it's for

This arrangement works for mixed choirs at all levels seeking a piece with genuine emotional resonance and practical flexibility. Whether you're building a graduation program, creating a concert around themes of connection and support, or simply wanting an inspirational piece your singers will care about performing, this is a reliable choice.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the alto solo with warm phrasing and allow it to breathe; it sets the emotional tone for everything that follows, so resist the urge to rush into the choral entrance.
  • Balance the building sections carefully so that when the full choir enters, it feels like a natural swell rather than an abrupt shift in weight.
  • Treat the final statement of the title as a moment of shared vulnerability; pull back dynamically and let the lyrics carry their full meaning without pushing.

How to use it

Position this as a closing statement in a graduation ceremony or as the emotional anchor in a concert themed around community and support. It pairs especially well before or after a contrasting upbeat selection, allowing the audience a moment to sit with the message before moving forward.

Skills your students will build

  • Layering voices to create gradual dynamic and textural growth
  • Maintaining a consistent melodic line while other voices enter around it
  • Shaping a soft, intimate vocal quality in final passages
  • Balancing solo and ensemble roles within a single piece

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