Of Thee I Sing, America!: SAB Choral Octavo
Incorporating "America"
Music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0003951
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Close your next concert in style with this great patriotic original by Jay Althouse and Sally Albrecht. Scored for band with optional chorus, this arragement features a fresh treatment of American in 4/4 time and will provide a high-impact finale for your next program. Choral parts are available in 2-part, 3-part mixed and SATB voicings. InstruPax includes: director's score, 2 trumpets, alto sax, trombone [opt. tuba], snare drum.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003951
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for decades as a composer, conductor, and advocate for movement-centered singing. Since 1987, she has received annual recognition from ASCAP, and her catalog now includes over 600 choral publications alongside 75 larger works for stage and concert. She has led honor choirs at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and spent more than thirty years directing choral publications at Alfred Music, one of the nation's largest educational publishers.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977), and the University of Miami Frost School of Music (M.M. in Accompanying, 1979). She has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College, and in 2021 received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and frequent collaborator, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht and Althouse deliver exactly what concert programmers need: a rousing patriotic finale that feels fresh rather than recycled. The instrumentation (band with optional chorus in SAB) gives you real flexibility for groups of different sizes, and the movement-staging possibilities align with Albrecht's signature gift for creating pieces that engage singers physically as well as musically.
What to expect
Bright and declarative, with the confidence of a piece that knows exactly what it wants to accomplish. The fresh treatment of familiar patriotic material feels contemporary rather than nostalgic, making it energizing for singers and audiences alike.
Who it's for
Directors programming a summer or patriotic concert who need a SAB-friendly finale that works whether you have a full band available or just want to add choral voices to band instrumentation. The flexible voicing (2-part, 3-part mixed, and SATB options within this octavo) means it fits mixed-age and mixed-ability choirs.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the optional chorus against the band so the ensemble becomes a unified force rather than competing sound sources; rehearse both parts together early to establish how they'll blend in your venue.
- Take advantage of the movement and staging elements during rehearsals; Albrecht's pieces thrive when singers are engaged kinetically, and this creates natural energy for the final number.
- If you're using the recorded accompaniment, make sure the band sections (trumpets, alto sax, trombone) lock into the recorded tempo during initial rehearsals so both groups build confidence.
How to use it
Place this as your concert closer when you want to send the audience out with momentum and pride. It's particularly effective for summer pops concerts, Independence Day celebrations, or any program that benefits from a high-impact final number that includes both instrumental and vocal forces.
Skills your students will build
- Blending voices with band instrumentation
- Managing tempo and rhythm in ensemble contexts with recorded accompaniment
- Coordinating movement with musical phrasing
- SAB voice independence and balance