Louisiana 1927: SATB Choral Octavo
By Randy Newman / arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0004357
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
In early 1927 heavy rains in the central United States caused the Mississippi River to flood and overflow its banks down river in Louisiana. Randy Newman's 1975 song documented that event. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this song's lyrics have a new meaning. And with recordings by Aaron Neville and others, Louisiana 1927 has become a musical response to the floods of 2005, reminding us that Louisiana will recover just as it did from the floods of 1927. This haunting new choral arrangement by Jay Althouse adds an optional clarinet.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0004357
More about this title
About the Composer: Randy Newman
Randy Newman is an American composer and singer-songwriter whose career spans five decades of sophisticated pop songwriting. Born in 1943, he has created music for film, television, and the concert stage, earning Academy Award nominations and Grammy recognition for his distinctive blend of melody, wit, and social observation.
Why we love this
Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the song's introspective gravity while remaining accessible to school choirs. The optional clarinet obbligato adds textural depth without complicating the vocal writing, and the pop idiom feels immediate and relevant to singers who know the cultural weight this song carries.
What to expect
The piece unfolds with quiet dignity and restrained sorrow, grounded in folk-inflected harmony that feels both timeless and unmistakably American. There is a slow, deliberate quality to the phrasing that invites reflection without heaviness, allowing the choir to convey both mourning and resilience.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves choirs seeking meaningful repertoire that connects history, contemporary social issues, and accessible vocal writing. It works for school choirs, community ensembles, and university groups who want to program music with real substance beyond technical display.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the emotional weight early by shaping the opening phrases with intentional breath placement and consistent vowel tone across the choir.
- Balance the clarinet obbligato so it surfaces without overshadowing the vocal line; rehearse independently first, then layer gradually.
- Let the harmonic language breathe; resist rushing through the chords, which carry much of the song's poignancy.
- Encourage singers to understand the historical and contemporary contexts of the 1927 floods and Hurricane Katrina, which deepens their interpretive choices.
How to use it
Program this alongside other American pop standards or as part of a concert exploring music's response to historical events and natural disaster. It pairs well with spirituals or contemporary choral works addressing American themes, and it speaks powerfully in spring concert contexts that allow for thematic programming.
Skills your students will build
- Shaping long phrases with minimal harmonic movement
- Balancing vocal and instrumental lines in pop idiom
- Interpreting lyrics with historical and social awareness
- Sustaining emotional intensity across a longer form
- Ensemble blend in SATB texture with contemporary harmony