Ride The Chariot (arr. Barbershop Harmony Society): SSAA Choral Octavo

This arrangement grounds a spiritual rooted in African American tradition within the harmonic language and performance conventions of barbershop, creating something both respectful and distinctive. The SSAA voicing opens this material to a broader range of choirs, and the Barbershop Harmony Society's editorial hand ensures the harmonic voice leading and stylistic details will ring true. Directors appreciate that this isn't a generic spiritual setting; it's a thoughtful piece that teaches singers how to listen across parts and shape phrases with precision.

Warmth, resilience, and joy. The harmonic richness of barbershop style wraps around this spiritual with vintage chord colors and unexpected resolutions that feel both grounded and elevated. Singing this arrangement connects performers to a long tradition of close harmony and human connection.

Choirs with confident SSAA singers looking to build their barbershop vocabulary and explore arrangements grounded in the society's pedagogical standards. This works equally well for women's choirs making their first venture into the genre and for established groups seeking a piece that combines spiritual authenticity with the technical rigor barbershop demands.

• Balance the soprano lines carefully, especially if you have more sopranos than altos. The key to barbershop blend is hearing all four voices as equal partners, which requires intentional voicing and placement of your singers.
• Shape phrases by thinking in terms of harmonic rhythm rather than melodic line alone. Barbershop arranging often moves the melody between parts; commit to following the harmony's arc across the full chord.
• Approach the text with spiritual reverence. Even in a secular barbershop setting, this material deserves singers who understand the cultural weight and emotional resonance of the song.
• Mark your score with breath points that preserve the harmonic integrity of each phrase. Staggered breathing will muddy the barbershop sound more than you might expect.

Consider this a bridge piece when programming American spirituals alongside folk traditions or when introducing an audience to barbershop as a legitimate choral genre. It also works beautifully as part of a concert exploring African American vocal heritage, offering singers and listeners a different lens on familiar material. The six-page length and moderate difficulty make it feasible for spring or fall concert inclusion without derailing your rehearsal schedule.

• Barbershop seventh chords and unexpected harmonic resolutions
• Singing divided soprano and alto parts with independent line integrity
• Phrase shaping driven by harmonic movement rather than melody
• Close-harmony blend and balance across four parts
• Cultural context and respectful interpretation of spirituals