I Bought Me a Cat: SAB Choral Octavo
American Folk Song / arr., with new words, by Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0001618
$2.20
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Don't pass up this fresh and fun arrangement! It's the ultimate "add-on" song, with a new animal introduced every verse. Each animal performs a distinctive call, creating an entire barnyard singing together at the end! (Featured on "That's Entertainment" choral movement DVD.) Check this out! https://leapingbrain.com/modshop/product/?shop=9&product=5696
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0001618
More about this title
About the Arranger: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades, first as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music and continuing as a prolific composer and arranger with more than 600 published works. Her influence extends across the country through clinician residencies at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and she has been recognized annually by ASCAP for her contributions to music since 1987.
Albrecht earned her B.A. from Rollins College in Music and Theater, then completed both an M.A. in Drama and an M.M. in Accompanying at the University of Miami. Her work is particularly celebrated for integrating movement with choral singing, a distinctive approach reflected throughout her catalog. She has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College, and in 2021 received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College.
Why we love this
Albrecht's genius here is structural and theatrical. The cumulative animal calls create genuine suspense and delight every single time, and your choir will sprint through rehearsals eager to nail the next barnyard entrance. The SAB voicing sits comfortably across mixed ensembles without sacrificing sophistication, and the recorded accompaniment keeps energy high whether you're in dress rehearsal or performance.
What to expect
Pure joy and infectious energy. The folk melody unfolds simply at first, but each new verse introduces comic tension and delight as another barnyard voice joins in. By the final section, the piece erupts into a wild, coordinated chorus of bleats, moos, and clucks that feels like controlled chaos and sounds like everyone's having the time of their life.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for middle school, high school, and community choirs seeking a secular piece with built-in entertainment value and genuine musical substance. The SAB voicing accommodates mixed ensembles of all experience levels, and the novelty hook keeps even reluctant singers invested.
How to get the most out of it
- Isolate each animal's call in sectional rehearsals so sopranos, altos, and basses own their distinctive sounds before blending them. Clear articulation makes the payoff land.
- Record a rehearsal once your choir has learned all the verses, then play it back so singers can hear how the texture builds. This motivates the ensemble and reinforces entrances.
- Choreograph simple, repeating gestures for each animal call. Even minimal movement makes the piece visually engaging and helps singers remember their entrance cues.
How to use it
Program this as a set opener or a mid-concert mood shifter when you need the audience to relax and smile. Its light-hearted charm makes it an ideal pairing with more substantial repertoire, and the recorded accompaniment means you can deploy it flexibly throughout your season without draining rehearsal time from bigger works.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble independence while parts move independently
- Distinctive articulation and character singing across multiple vocal lines
- Entrances and synchronization when layering parts with contrasting melodic and textural content
- Connection between movement and vocal production