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Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning: SAB, <i>a cappella</i> Choral Octavo

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Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning Cover Image
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning: SAB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning: SAB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Traditional Spiritual / arr. Jay Althouse

Item: 00-28680
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Description
The strength of this steady, walking-tempo spiritual comes from the powerful dynamic contrasts and solid choral writing. Features brief descant-style female solos. The optional hand drum adds a rhythmic pulse.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning: SAB, a cappella Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081312248
SKU: 00-28680

More about this title

About the Arranger: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse studied Music Education and Music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later earned the Distinguished Alumni award. He spent eight years in rights and licensing administration for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that tenure.

Althouse has composed over 800 choral works performed widely throughout the English-speaking world and holds membership in ASCAP, where he is a regular recipient of the Special Award for his compositions. Beyond his choral output, he has co-created children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, edited respected vocal solo collections, co-authored instructional texts including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and contributed to the choral world through compilations like I Hear America Singing, which was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's Inauguration in 2009. Althouse has served on the board of the North Carolina Master Chorale and currently advises the Folk Art Society of America's National Advisory Board.

Why we love this

The dynamic architecture here rewards directors who want their singers to feel the spiritual's power without requiring a large ensemble. Althouse balances accessibility with genuine musical substance through smart voicing choices and those strategically placed treble solos that invite singers to step forward and own the moment.

What to expect

This arrangement radiates quiet determination and faith. The steady tempo and walking rhythm give the piece its backbone, while the dynamic contrasts create waves of intensity that keep listeners engaged without ever feeling rushed or overwrought. There's a grounded dignity here, earned through solid choral writing rather than artifice.

Who it's for

Directors of mixed choirs seeking a spiritually resonant arrangement that works for groups ranging from high school to adult community ensembles. The SAB voicing keeps parts singable while the a cappella format eliminates accompaniment concerns, making it ideal for festivals and concert programming where flexibility matters.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the steady walking pulse early in rehearsal without rushing; the piece's impact depends on the choir holding that foundation while dynamics shift above it.
  • Layer the hand drum entrance carefully during rehearsals so it enhances rather than covers the voices; start without it, then add it gradually as the SAB lines solidify.
  • Shape the treble solos with individual attention, even if multiple singers cover each part. These moments are the spiritual's emotional peak.
  • Contrast the dynamics boldly. The written forte passages need genuine commitment to make the softer sections land with presence.

How to use it

Pair this with other spirituals or sacred repertoire in a program exploring American choral traditions, or let it stand as a powerful solo selection that demonstrates your choir's control over dynamics and blend. Its 12-page length and a cappella format make it accessible for festival competitions or shorter concert slots where impact matters more than duration.

Skills your students will build

  • Dynamic control and shaping across an entire piece
  • Blend and balance in three-part mixed voicing
  • Solo singing within a choral context
  • Steady pulse maintenance in a cappella settings
  • Rhythmic precision with hand drum accompaniment

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