I Sing a Song for America (I Sing a Prayer for America): SSA Choral Octavo
Incorporating "America, the Beautiful" / words and music by Douglas E. Wagner
Level: Moderate
Item: 00-PO-0005360
$2.25
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Description
In answer to the devastating events of this past September, this composer chose to "sing a prayer for America," asking God to strengthen our resolve as we stretch hands to every land in a gesture of hope and unity. Incorporating "America the Beautiful," this moving work is truly a culmination of the prayers of the people.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Studio PR Catalog
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005360
More about this title
About the Composer: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas E. Wagner grew up in Chicago and studied music at Butler University, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees. After three decades leading high school music programs as educator and administrator, he committed himself fully to composition, creating over 3,500 works across choral, band, orchestral, handbell, organ, piano, and vocal genres since 1973.
Wagner's music has reached performance spaces and broadcast audiences worldwide, with more than seventeen million copies distributed globally. He now lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Sandy, continuing a prolific career that has shaped repertoire for school and church musicians alike.
Why we love this
Wagner's setting captures genuine emotional weight without sentimentality, allowing young singers to engage meaningfully with patriotic and spiritual themes. The integration of "America the Beautiful" feels organic rather than imposed, and the moderate difficulty means your singers can focus on expression rather than wrestling with technical demands.
What to expect
Rooted in spiritual reflection and quiet resolve, this piece draws strength from melody and unison passages before opening into fuller harmony. The musical landscape invites singers to inhabit prayer and hope alongside affirmation, creating moments of genuine communal expression.
Who it's for
SSA choirs at the middle school, high school, or community level seeking meaningful patriotic and sacred repertoire. Directors working with developing singers who benefit from straightforward vocal writing paired with substantial emotional content will find this especially valuable.
How to get the most out of it
- Build the dynamic arc gradually through the piece; resist the urge to start loud. The power emerges from the accumulation of hope and conviction across the entire work.
- Pay attention to text clarity, especially when layering voices in the fuller sections. Every word should land distinctly so the message of unity comes through.
- Shape the familiar melody when it appears, treating it as a moment of collective recognition rather than background material.
How to use it
Program this for fourth of July celebrations, patriotic concert themes, or spring concerts emphasizing service and community values. Its moderate demands also make it suitable as a centerpiece work in a concert mixing sacred and secular American repertoire, where its reflective quality can provide meaningful contrast.
Skills your students will build
- Singing sustained lines with breath control and legit phrasing
- Balancing text intelligibility with vocal beauty in SSA harmony
- Responding to emotional subtext and interpreting patriotic/spiritual content authentically
- Navigating familiar melody within new harmonic context