March of the Kings: Score: Choral SoundPax
Traditional French Carol / arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PR-0000746
$8.00
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Description
This triumphant arrangement by Mark Hayes is exciting from start to finish. Its full marcato singing has a remarkable impact in performance, and the addition of Mark's optional SoundPax instrumental parts or SoundTrax CD raises the bar for seasonal concert features. Dramatic "ahs" symbolize the arrival of royalty, and the high range descant evokes images of an angelic chorus above. SoundPax includes parts for fl./picc., ob., cl., 2 tpt., Fr. horn, tbn., bs. tbn., perc.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, March of the Kings: Score: Choral SoundPax 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 Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
40
SKU:
00-PR-0000746
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes has established himself as one of the most prolific voices in American choral and sacred music, with more than 1,750 published compositions across multiple genres. A summa cum laude graduate of Baylor University's piano performance program, Hayes has conducted at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall, premiering major works like his Requiem at Lincoln Center in 2013 and again in Rome as part of the Vatican's Festival Pro Musica E Arte Sacra.
Beyond his choral legacy, Hayes is an accomplished orchestrator, record producer, and concert pianist with over 100 piano publications in print. His work spans sacred and secular repertoire, musical theater orchestration, and award-winning theatrical compositions, including the Civil War Voices theatrical score. In 2010, Baylor University honored him with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music, recognizing his sustained impact on the field.
Why we love this
Hayes's marcato writing creates visceral impact on stage; the choir feels energized by the rhythmic precision required, and audiences respond to the dramatic shift in texture. The optional SoundPax orchestration transforms this from a sturdy choral piece into a full seasonal spectacle, while the descant and strategic "ahs" give your singers expressive moments that elevate the arrangement beyond competent to genuinely memorable.
What to expect
Majestic and propulsive, with bright marcato rhythms that propel the narrative forward. The sudden arrival marked by dramatic vocal sighs creates ceremonial grandeur, while the soaring descant lifts the texture into an almost celestial moment of wonder.
Who it's for
Directors seeking a polished, contemporary Christmas or Epiphany offering that combines accessible singability with genuine theatrical impact. Choirs comfortable with marcato singing and able to sustain a high tessiture descant will find this arrangement energizing and audience-friendly.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish crisp articulation in the marcato sections early in rehearsal; this rhythmic clarity will carry the piece's propulsive energy and prevent the work from dragging despite its ceremonial subject matter.
- Use the dramatic "ahs" as a moment to reset and breathe collectively; mark these in scores so singers treat them as structural turning points rather than throwaway effects.
- Balance the descant line carefully against the full choir so it reads as an ethereal complement rather than a competing melody; sopranos should listen beneath rather than above the ensemble.
- If performing with SoundPax, schedule at least one full rehearsal with the recorded accompaniment so singers adjust to the orchestral density and lock tempo with the tracks.
How to use it
Program this as a mid-concert statement piece or as a closer for a holiday concert that balances reverent and celebratory repertoire. Its dramatic arc and optional orchestration make it equally effective as a feature on a mixed winter concert or as the centerpiece of a sacred seasonal program.
Skills your students will build
- Crisp marcato articulation across sustained passages
- Balancing a descant line within ensemble texture
- Phrasing and emotional delivery of dramatic vocal effects
- Ensemble rhythm and precision in rhythmically driven choral writing