Let Freedom Ring!: SATB Choral Octavo
Music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0003887
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A moving patriotic work by Jay Althouse with an especially timely text: "We came from many nations with nothing but a dream." The final statement of the melody incorporates a descant singing "America The Beautiful." Brass parts are so effective and easy to add. With the Olympics just around the corner, consider it for Spring concerts.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003887
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. His eight-year tenure as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher gave him deep insight into the choral repertoire landscape, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that period.
As a composer, Althouse has over 800 works in print spanning all choir levels, performed widely across English-speaking countries. A writer member of ASCAP and regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award, he has co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, edited vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and co-authored influential resources like The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. He contributed to I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's inauguration in 2009. Althouse has also written classroom materials and served on boards including the North Carolina Master Chorale and the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
The text captures something genuine about the American story without resorting to jingoism, making this work land differently than typical patriotic fare. That final descant layering "America The Beautiful" over the main melody is a sophisticated musical gesture that feels earned, and the brass parts add real color without creating rehearsal burden.
What to expect
Straightforward and earnest, with a melody that sits comfortably in the voice while the harmonic support underneath adds substance. The incorporation of "America The Beautiful" at the finish creates a moment of genuine lift, familiar enough to resonate but integrated freshly into the overall structure.
Who it's for
Choirs of intermediate ability looking for patriotic repertoire that carries weight without requiring advanced technical demands. This works equally well for school, community, and church choirs performing summer concerts or July 4th programming.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the descant carefully in the final statement; the sopranos need projection without overshadowing the SATB foundation underneath.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the harmonic shape early, especially if your group is new to the piece.
- If you add the optional brass parts, let them establish the final section rather than doubling throughout; the impact comes from their entrance, not constant reinforcement.
- The text about "many nations" and "a dream" deserves clarity and connection; rehearse it as a statement, not decoration.
How to use it
Consider this as the emotional centerpiece of a summer or patriotic-themed concert, where its accessible tunefulness will engage audiences while the layered descant finale gives performers something rewarding to execute. The eight-page length makes it an ideal companion to lighter fare or a strong opener that sets a thoughtful tone.
Skills your students will build
- Singing with independence within a multi-part texture, especially balancing a descant line against four-part harmony
- Text clarity and communication in English-language repertoire
- Harmonic listening and blend in SATB voicing
- Responding to optional instrumental accompaniment and brass parts