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On My Way to Jordan: SATB Choral Octavo

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On My Way to Jordan Cover Image
On My Way to Jordan: SATB Choral Octavo

On My Way to Jordan: SATB Choral Octavo

Words and music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-35481
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Description
With an optional part for snare drum, this original spiritual features a steady walking-tempo and an uplifting text. "When we cross that river to the other side, what a meeting it will be." Featured on PianoTrax 3 Accompaniment CD (00-34744).

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, On My Way to Jordan: 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: 12
UPC: 038081396774
SKU: 00-35481
Instrumentation: Opt. Snare Drum

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 honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. Early in his career, he spent eight years in rights and licensing administration at a major educational publisher, where he also served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, he has published more than 800 choral works performed regularly across the English-speaking world and holds membership in ASCAP, consistently receiving the organization's Special Award for his contributions to standard music.

Beyond composition, Althouse has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on children's musicals and edited respected vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers. His pedagogical work spans choral warm-up resources, composer reference texts, and classroom materials. He co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. Based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, he serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and contributes to its quarterly publication.

Why we love this

Althouse captures the spiritual tradition with genuine warmth and accessibility. The steady walking tempo invites organic ensemble cohesion, while the optional snare drum adds textural flexibility for directors who want to enhance the forward momentum or keep the arrangement lean. His text speaks directly to the eternal human longing for peace and reunion, landing with both gravitas and hope.

What to expect

The steady walking tempo feels like a gentle pilgrimage. Voices move together in unhurried dignity, supported by warm harmonic progressions that feel both grounded and transcendent. There is quiet joy in the text and melodic contour, an affirmation of faith expressed through simple, powerful imagery.

Who it's for

This octavo serves mixed choirs at middle school through adult levels who want to explore the spiritual tradition with music that honors its roots. Directors seeking repertoire that engages both musical maturity and accessible part-writing will find this piece rewarding for ensembles building confidence in longer, lyrical lines.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the walking tempo early in rehearsal without rushing; this piece thrives on a grounded, processional feel rather than rhythmic drive. Let the rhythm section (especially if you use the optional snare drum) anchor the ensemble from the start.
  • Shape the phrase "When we cross that river to the other side" with careful breath placement. These longer lines reward singers who think in complete musical thoughts rather than sectional breathing.
  • If adding the snare drum part, balance it so it supports rather than dominates. The spiritual tradition relies on the voices as the primary vehicle; percussion should enhance texture without drawing focus.
  • Encourage singers to connect emotionally with the imagery of crossing and reunion. This piece asks for sincerity and vulnerability rather than dramatic presentation.

How to use it

Program this alongside other spirituals or sacred choral works to create a thematic concert segment exploring American hymn traditions. Its moderate length and steady character make it effective as an opening or closing piece, offering a reflective counterpoint to more energetic repertoire. It works equally well in a service music context where the meditative quality and uplifting message serve a congregational purpose.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining long, lyrical phrases with consistent breath support
  • Blending mixed voices in four-part SATB writing
  • Ensemble intonation across sustained harmonic progressions
  • Understanding and performing the spiritual tradition authentically
  • Balancing vocal texture with optional instrumental accompaniment

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