On My Way to Jordan: SAB Choral Octavo
Words and music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0000891
$1.80
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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).
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000891
Instrumentation:
Opt. Snare Drum
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse studied music education and music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. His career in music publishing spanned eight years as a rights and licenses administrator, during which he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.
As a composer, Althouse has created more than 800 choral works performed across the English-speaking world. He holds ASCAP membership and is a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond composition, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and authored or co-authored instructional resources such as The Complete Choral Warm-up Book, Accent on Composers, Ready to Read Music, and One-Page Composer Bios. His collaborative choral work I Hear America Singing was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration. Althouse has served on the board of the North Carolina Master Chorale and currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse's gift for clear, singable writing shines here. The steady walking tempo and spiritual text create natural momentum without requiring complex rhythmic negotiation, leaving your singers free to invest in phrasing and community. The optional snare drum part offers an elegant way to deepen texture without overwhelming the voices.
What to expect
A hymn-like journey set to an unhurried, grounded pulse. The spiritual's traditional text about crossing the river carries both spiritual meaning and a sense of forward motion, while the music supports that journey with understated dignity and warmth.
Who it's for
Mixed choirs of all ages and skill levels who want to build a strong spiritual repertoire without technical complexity. It works particularly well for community choirs, church choirs, and school ensembles seeking music with accessible voicing and meaningful text.
How to get the most out of it
- Maintain an even, purposeful walking tempo throughout; resist the urge to slow down on the text about crossing the river. The steadiness creates the spiritual's emotional power.
- If you include the snare drum, keep it supportive rather than prominent. It should anchor the rhythm without drawing attention away from the voices.
- Shape the phrase "When we cross that river to the other side" with gentle dynamic lift; let the voices tell the story rather than rely on dramatic contrasts.
- Blend the three parts evenly so no single line dominates. SAB writing often exposes balance issues, so rehearse individually parts first, then combine.
How to use it
Program this alongside other spirituals to create a thematic concert moment, or use it as a accessible spiritual that broadens your repertoire beyond more complex arrangements. It pairs well with hymn-based programming and works effectively as a concert closer that leaves audiences with a contemplative, affirming message.
Skills your students will build
- Blending three-part mixed voicing with even balance across SAB ranges
- Sustaining steady pulse and tempo in spiritual style
- Phrasing longer melodic lines with gentle shape and purpose
- Coordinating optional percussion with vocal ensemble