One for the Altos: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Althouse knows how to write music that makes singers grin while they're performing it. This piece honors altos with genuine affection rather than the usual apologetic arrangement, and that shift in tone creates real joy in rehearsal and on stage. The recorded accompaniment gives you freedom to shape the piece with your ensemble rather than fighting a rigid tempo track.

A wink and a warm hug delivered in four-part harmony. The piece has the ease of something written by someone who genuinely understands how choirs work and what makes singers feel seen on stage.

This octavo works for any community, school, or volunteer choir that wants to celebrate their altos without pretension. Directors looking for a concert piece that builds ensemble camaraderie and gives a specific voice part the spotlight will find an immediate fit here.

• Let the humor land by resisting the urge to oversell the jokes; altos will find the inherent fun in the material when the music itself is sung cleanly
• Use the SoundTrax recording to establish the groove in early rehearsals, then transition to pianist or backing track at a tempo your ensemble controls
• Balance the alto line clearly so the celebratory message comes through; this isn't a piece to hide the featured voice
• Consider staging or gesture work that acknowledges the alto section's central role; even subtle positioning can amplify the piece's tongue-in-cheek warmth

Open a concert with this to set a playful tone, or use it as the emotional center of a lighter set celebrating ensemble identity. It pairs well with other secular or humorous selections and works equally well in spring concerts, holiday programs, or end-of-year celebrations.

• Balancing quartet textures with featured voice line
• Interpreting humorous intent through musical style choices
• Responding to recorded accompaniment tracks
• Ensemble listening with focus on one voice part's prominence