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Nightingale: SATB Choral Octavo

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Nightingale: SATB Choral Octavo

Nightingale: SATB Choral Octavo

Words and music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-47519
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Description
A hushed a cappella opening in rich harmony immediately captures the ear. The flowing piano joins just before two brief optional solos introduce the beloved nightingale and her tuneful melody. Expressive singing and vocal artistry are encouraged by the gentle ebb and flow of tempo.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Nightingale: SATB Choral Octavo 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: 8
UPC: 038081542126
SKU: 00-47519

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse studied Music Education and Music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. His publishing background spans eight years in rights and licensing administration for a major educational music house, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that tenure.

As a composer, Althouse has created more than 800 choral works performed throughout the English-speaking world. His output spans choral music for all levels, vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, co-written musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, and instructional resources such as The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. A member of ASCAP and regular recipient of its Special Award, Althouse resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

The opening a cappella moment is arresting enough to command any audience's attention, and the optional solos give your strongest singers a chance to shine without demanding operatic technique. Althouse's use of tempo flexibility alongside the transition from voices alone to piano support feels genuinely musical rather than gimmicky, rewarding singers who understand the piece's emotional arc.

What to expect

Hushed and intimate, as if the choir is whispering about something precious. The gentle sweep of the piano arrival brings warmth without disrupting the quietness established at the start, and the nightingale's brief melody floats above it all with an almost folk-like simplicity.

Who it's for

Choirs with solid blend and an interest in repertoire beyond the holiday and sacred canon. This works especially well for groups comfortable with unaccompanied singing and mature enough to shape phrasing without constant conducting.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the opening a cappella harmony carefully. Sopranos and altos need support from lower voices, but the overall sound should feel delicate rather than full-voiced.
  • Work the two optional solos separately with singers who have good intonation and musicality. They need not be showstoppers; the pieces succeed when soloists sing with intimacy and clarity.
  • Let the tempo ebb and flow guide your ensemble's phrasing. Mark spots where you'll give singers time to breathe and adjust the forward motion slightly, particularly as the piano enters and around the solo passages.

How to use it

Pair this with other nature-inspired or lyrical secular pieces to build a concert section that values subtlety and ensemble balance. It opens well, allowing you to set a contemplative tone early and contrast it with livelier selections later.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing sustained a cappella harmony with focused intonation
  • Shaping phrases through dynamic and tempo variation without a conductor's constant beat
  • Blending voices across parts while maintaining individual line clarity
  • Approaching optional solo passages with musicality and confidence

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