Like the Beat of a Drum: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Althouse captures that rare balance between accessibility and substance. The pulsing rhythms create immediate engagement, while the message about conviction and authenticity resonates genuinely without preaching. The optional drum circle parts transform this from standard choral writing into something contemporary and kinetic that your singers will want to perform again and again.

Propulsive and grounded. The beat is relentless but not aggressive, creating momentum that feels inevitable rather than forced. There's an undercurrent of conviction in the harmonies, a sense that something important is being said plainly and without doubt.

This arrangement works for middle school through high school choirs seeking contemporary secular repertoire with real substance. Directors building programs around themes of identity and integrity will find this piece both musically interesting and thematically resonant.

• Anchor the drum circle parts from the start of rehearsals. These aren't afterthoughts but structural elements that drive the pulse; assigning them early gives percussionists and singers time to lock in together.
• Shape the lyrical content around those pulsing rhythms rather than against them. The tension between the steady beat and the vocal line is where the piece finds its power.
• Consider the recorded accompaniment as a rehearsal tool first. Use it to internalize the harmonic language, then gradually move to a cappella or live accompaniment to build independence and ownership.

This pairs naturally with other contemporary pieces exploring social or personal themes, or it can anchor a concert around rhythm and percussion. The drum circle parts make it especially engaging for audiences when programmed with other participatory or physically engaging works.

• Maintaining rhythmic independence while singing melodic lines
• Blending in 2-part harmony against a steady pulse
• Interpreting contemporary text with conviction and clarity
• Coordinating with optional percussion parts and accompaniment
• Building stamina through repeated rhythmic patterns