I Know Where I'm Going: SSA Choral Octavo
Traditional Folk Song / arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PO-0003371
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
While the origins of this sublime love ballad are uncertain (either Ireland or Scotland), its beauty is undeniable. The melancholy traditional text speaks of trading all worldly trappings for "handsome, winsome Johnny," and Mark's skillful choral writing is pure elegance for women's choirs.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003371
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes brings more than four decades of compositional and arranging experience to every project he undertakes. A summa cum laude graduate in Piano Performance from Baylor University, Hayes has built a catalog of over 1,750 published works spanning sacred and secular genres. His arrangements and original compositions have been performed at Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall, and his choral works including the Te Deum, Magnificat, and Gloria have become staples in repertoire collections worldwide.
Beyond the concert hall, Hayes has distinguished himself as an orchestrator, conductor, and record producer. He conducted the world premiere of his Requiem at Lincoln Center in 2013 and later presented it at St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome as part of the Vatican-sponsored Festival Pro Musica E Arte Sacra. In 2010, Baylor University recognized his contributions to Christian music education with its Award for Exemplary Leadership. Hayes maintains an active schedule composing and arranging from his home in Kansas City, Missouri, where his mission remains constant: creating music of substance and beauty for musicians around the world.
Why we love this
Hayes transforms this beloved traditional melody into something that feels both timeless and freshly conceived. The writing is elegant without being precious; it sits naturally in women's voices and rewards careful phrasing while remaining accessible to singers at intermediate levels. Programming this octavo gives your choir a moment of genuine emotional depth in any concert.
What to expect
Intimate and reflective, this arrangement wraps the traditional melody in warm, consonant harmonies that feel both historical and timeless. The melancholy of the text is present throughout, but there's an underlying current of certainty in the singer's choice, creating a piece that feels both introspective and quietly powerful.
Who it's for
Women's choirs looking for a piece that combines folk authenticity with sophisticated arranging. The SSA voicing accommodates changing voices and newer singers while offering enough harmonic interest to engage experienced ensembles.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melody with long-line phrasing rather than dwelling on individual notes; the text about surrendering everything for love demands a sense of flowing inevitability.
- Balance the three voices so that the alto line remains audible without pulling focus from the soprano melody; Hayes gives the altos meaningful harmonic support.
- Allow space and simplicity in the accompaniment to breathe; resist the urge to rush the quieter moments, which contain the song's greatest tenderness.
- Explore the minor tonality's melancholy without descending into sadness; this is a declaration of choice and devotion, not despair.
How to use it
This octavo fits naturally into programs exploring folk traditions, love songs, or British Isles repertoire. Consider pairing it with other Hayes arrangements or folk settings to build a thematic concert segment, or use it as a contrasting moment between more contemporary pieces to reset the emotional temperature of your concert.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long phrases with consistent tone and breath control
- Balancing three-part SSA writing with clear voice independence
- Interpreting text with emotional authenticity in traditional folk contexts
- Singing in minor tonality with attention to harmonic relationships