Music, Speak to Me Now: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Music, Speak to Me Now: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Music, Speak to Me Now Sheet Music Preview

Music, Speak to Me Now: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-PO-0004637
Digital Download
$2.25

Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Description
One of the finest 'music' songs we've heard in years. 'Music, speak to me now...think of me as your friend.' Jay Althouse brings the joy of music alive with this simple, yet powerful piece. Suitable for Music In Our Schools Month or any time of year. It's a winner.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 8
SKU: 00-PO-0004637

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later recognized as a Distinguished Alumni. His eight-year tenure in rights and licenses administration at a major educational publisher gave him deep insight into what schools and choirs actually need, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during this time.

Althouse has composed more than 800 choral works performed widely across the English-speaking world. His catalog spans all choir levels, and his contributions to choral music have earned him regular ASCAP Special Awards. Beyond composition, he has co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, and authored influential classroom resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. In 2009, he and Albrecht co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's Inauguration. He resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

Althouse writes with genuine affection for what music means to singers and audiences alike, and this piece radiates that warmth without ever becoming saccharine. The text lands powerfully because it speaks directly to your singers' own relationship with music, making it both a celebration and a conversation. Programming this during Music In Our Schools Month or as an opening anthem creates an immediate connection between your choir and the room.

What to expect

There's a quiet earnestness here, almost conversational in tone. The music invites rather than demands, creating space for reflection while celebrating the joy of singing together. The simplicity is deceptive; underneath runs a genuine emotional core that resonates because it trusts the singers and the audience to find the meaning themselves.

Who it's for

This piece works beautifully for intermediate choirs ready to handle three independent parts with confidence. It suits singers from middle school through adult ensembles who can handle a straightforward, text-focused arrangement without getting lost in complexity.

How to get the most out of it

  • Build the dynamic arc gradually through the first section so 'speak to me now' feels like a genuine request, not a demand.
  • Balance the three parts so no voice dominates; this is a conversation among equals, not a melody with accompaniment.
  • Let the text breathe. Resist the urge to rush through repeated phrases; they gain power from simplicity and clarity.
  • Shape the ending with care. A soft, unified cutoff after the final statement will leave the intended impact without overselling the moment.

How to use it

Open a concert with this as a mission statement for your season or your school's music program. It also serves as a powerful anchor for Music In Our Schools Month events, either performed solo or paired with other selections that explore what music means to your community.

Skills your students will build

  • Independent part-singing in a three-part mixed texture
  • Text-driven phrasing and dynamic shaping
  • Balancing individual lines within a unified harmonic sound
  • Communicating meaning through simplicity and restraint

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