Oh, Sinner!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Althouse crafts this original with genuine style. The soul-funk groove and bluesy modal melody give your ensemble permission to move and commit to a sound that feels contemporary without sacrificing musicality. The built-in showcase moments for your strongest singers make casting rewarding, and the SoundTrax recording captures the pocket so your singers hear exactly where the groove lives.

A call to reckoning wrapped in irresistible groove. The mysterious, atmospheric opening draws listeners in before the rhythm section locks in, the modal melody twists through bluesy turns, and soloists deliver with conviction. Voices tumble down through inversions like water finding its own path home.

Directors seeking an original sacred work that speaks to contemporary singers and audiences. This piece energizes choirs with solid fundamentals who are ready to dig into style, solos, and a funky, soulful sound world.

• Nail the mysterious opening as an ensemble before Jay's solo enters. Lock that ambient vocal texture so the soloist can float above it with confidence.
• Study the descending piano motive and voice inversions that close the piece. These should feel like a coordinated slide, not a series of jerky chord changes.
• Give your soloists room to breathe and phrase like they're interpreting a jazz or soul tune. Rhythmic precision matters, but they need flexibility within the groove.

Pair this with other contemporary sacred or spiritual works to create a concert that honors tradition while celebrating choral artistry rooted in soul and funk. The combination of accessibility and showcase potential makes it equally effective as a spring concert feature or as part of a winter program with more traditional fare.

• Singing in bluesy modal contexts with bent notes and expressive intonation
• Rhythmic precision within a funky, groove-oriented texture
• Tracking voice inversions through descending harmonic progressions
• Stylized solo interpretation with phrasing and dynamic control
• Ensemble cohesion and blend across contemporary sacred idioms