Like the Beat of a Drum: SATB Choral Octavo
Words and music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0000775
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Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
"There's a change on the horizon, there's a change that's sure to come." This piece delivers with a powerful message to be true to what you believe in. Pulsing rhythms are accentuated with the optional drum circle parts included in the publication. Different, fresh, and memorable choral writing.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0000775
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 earned the Distinguished Alumni award. Early in his career, he spent eight years managing rights and licenses for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. His catalog includes more than 800 choral works performed across the English-speaking world, and he is a writer member of ASCAP with a consistent track record of receiving the ASCAP Special Award.
Beyond composing, Althouse has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, and authored instructional resources for music classrooms including Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. His collaborative work I Hear America Singing was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. He has served on the board of the North Carolina Master Chorale and currently contributes to the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse crafts a choral line that sits naturally in the voice while delivering unmistakable impact. The combination of driving rhythms and a message that resonates with ensemble singers makes this piece energizing to rehearse and satisfying to perform, and the optional drum circle parts give your group a fresh way to engage with contemporary arranging without losing accessibility.
What to expect
Energy pulses through this work in waves, propelled forward by rhythmic momentum that feels modern and alive. The lyric about change on the horizon carries conviction, and the writing itself feels fresh and driven rather than settling into expected harmonic patterns.
Who it's for
This piece works for choirs seeking contemporary choral writing with substance. High schools, adult choirs, and strong middle school ensembles all have the vocal maturity to connect with both the rhythmic energy and the thematic content about standing firm in your beliefs.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section early in rehearsal. The pulsing rhythms are the backbone of this piece, so establishing a solid foundation in percussion and bass parts pays dividends across all voice lines.
- Shape the dynamic rise carefully toward key lyrical moments so the message lands with conviction rather than merely cycling through louder repetitions.
- If using the drum circle parts, rehearse them separately at least once to build confidence, then layer them in gradually as the choir gains security with its own material.
How to use it
Program this as an opener or closer on a concert exploring themes of identity and conviction, or pair it with other contemporary secular choral works to show the range of current choral composition. Its rhythmic drive and positive message make it an ideal bridge piece between traditional repertoire and more experimental programming.
Skills your students will build
- Precision in rhythmic unison across all four voice parts
- Sustaining energy through repeated harmonic patterns without loss of intonation
- Integration of optional percussion parts with vocal lines
- Conveying lyrical intent and emotional message in contemporary idiom