Rock-a My Soul: SATB, a cappella Choral Octavo
Traditional Spiritual / arr. and adapted by Kirby Shaw
Level: Moderate
Item: 00-PO-0002795
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
What would you expect from Kirby Shaw except an extremely creative and energetic setting of the traditional spiritual "Rock-a My Soul." It's fresh, it's fun, and it will bring down the house every time you perform it! A new winner from Kirby Shaw!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Studio PR Catalog
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0002795
Instrumentation:
Opt. Tambourine
More about this title
About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw's influence on choral music education spans five decades and six continents. His formal training in music education, choral composition, and conducting from San Jose State University and the University of Washington equipped him to build some of the nation's most respected vocal jazz ensembles at the College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. His teaching style combines deep musical knowledge with infectious humor and energy that inspires singers at every level.
As a prolific arranger and composer with over 2500 published works and nearly 20 million copies in circulation worldwide, Shaw has earned multiple ASCAP awards and commissions from major institutions including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He has collaborated with vocal giants like Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks, and currently directs the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University while performing with Just 4 Kicks, a jazz a cappella quartet.
Why we love this
Shaw brings his signature blend of authenticity and theatrical flair to this traditional spiritual, creating an arrangement that honors the source material while delivering genuine crowd energy. The writing showcases his gift for balancing accessibility with musical interest; singers at the Grade 3 level can tackle this confidently while directors get an arrangement with real harmonic and rhythmic sophistication. This is the kind of piece that reminds audiences why live choral singing matters.
What to expect
Joyful, grounded, and alive. Shaw's setting captures the spiritual's essence of hope and persistence while injecting contemporary rhythmic vitality that keeps the piece from feeling antiquated. Singers will feel the tradition in their bones while audiences sense the modern creative intelligence behind every phrase.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits developing SATB choirs with moderate vocal facility and solid musicianship. Directors looking for repertoire that energizes audiences while remaining genuinely singable for Grade 3 ensembles will find a natural fit here.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the spiritual's rhythmic foundation early in rehearsals. The groove needs to feel inevitable, not imposed; lock the pulse through repeated sectional work on rhythm patterns before layering the harmonic content.
- Shape the dynamic arc deliberately across all verses. Shaw's arrangement gains momentum naturally, but intentional crescendos and carefully placed softer moments will prevent the energy from feeling one-note and maximize the impact of climactic moments.
- If you include the optional tambourine part, assign it to someone with solid time awareness who can support (rather than lead) the ensemble's rhythm without overshadowing the voices.
- Let the text breathe between major sections. This spiritual speaks to resilience and faith; allowing space for the message to land will deepen the emotional weight before building again.
How to use it
Program this as a standalone opener or mid-concert energizer in a choral concert where you want to shift mood and engage the audience immediately. It also works effectively on a program pairing spirituals and folk traditions with contemporary sacred repertoire, showing how these songs continue to evolve in fresh interpretive hands.
Skills your students will build
- maintaining rhythmic integrity in syncopated a cappella settings
- balancing independence with ensemble blend across voice parts
- performing traditional spiritual material with authentic stylistic awareness
- layering dynamic control across longer phrases without losing pulse
- managing breath and phrasing in sustained a cappella passages