My Gentle Harp: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: My Gentle Harp: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-LG51409
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. Alice Parker

Item: 00-LG51409

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Lawson-Gould Music Publishers

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 783556005773

SKU: 00-LG51409

More about this title

About the Arranger: Alice Parker

Alice Parker's career spans decades of serious work with American vocal music. She studied composition and conducting at Smith College and Juilliard, where she forged a landmark partnership with Robert Shaw that produced hundreds of arrangements of folk hymns and spirituals now sung by choirs across the globe. Her output exceeds five hundred published works, encompassing operas, cantatas, song cycles, and individual choral pieces that have shaped the repertoire available to singers at every level.

In 1985, Parker founded Melodious Accord, Inc., and redirected her focus toward the essential element of all vocal music: the melody line itself. She authored influential texts on melodic phrasing, choral improvisation, and church music practice, including her widely respected guide to congregational singing. Parker's honors reflect her standing in the field: she received the Robert Shaw Award from the American Choral Directors Association, was named Director Laureate of Chorus America, and earned six honorary doctorates alongside recognition from major arts institutions and funding organizations.

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Why we love this

Parker's settings of secular material carry the same care for vocal line and singability that made her folk hymn arrangements indispensable. This octavo rewards singers who pay attention to phrase shape and legit tone production without demanding virtuosity or unusual ranges.

What to expect

Intimate and reflective, this piece draws on the directness of its text and Parker's gift for writing lines that feel natural to sing. The harmonic language supports the melody without overwhelming it.

Who it's for

SATB choirs seeking secular material with literary substance and vocal accessibility. Works equally well for community ensembles and high school or college singers.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the melodic contour through breath placement rather than dynamic swells. Let the text and natural word stress guide your singers' approach to phrase weight.
Balance this alongside canonic or imitative writing by establishing clear voice independence in rehearsal before layering all parts together.
Match this pairing with other Parker arrangements if your concert explores American vocal writing; the stylistic consistency will be immediately apparent to your audience.

How to use it

Pair this with a larger choral work to provide contrast and introspection, or build a thematic program around Parker's secular and sacred settings to showcase the breadth of her catalog. An eight-page octavo fits comfortably into spring or fall concerts that need a gentle anchor piece.