Run, Run to Bethlehem: SSAB Choral Octavo

$2.05 USD

Run, Run to Bethlehem: SSAB Choral Octavo

Name: Run, Run to Bethlehem: SSAB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-21157
Price: 2.05 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-21157

$2.05

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Another brilliant Christmas spiritual from Jay Althouse. "Run, run to Bethlehem. See the tiny baby lying in the hay." The melody practically sings itself, the steady, even rhythms drive the piece forward, and dynamic changes add excitement. A contrasting middle section adds a different dimension before a return to the opening melody and a closing section in which each voice is added on to the men's melody. "Baby born today!"

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081200781

SKU: 00-21157

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later recognized with the Distinguished Alumni award. Early in his career, he worked for eight years in rights and licensing at a major educational music publisher, serving on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. His output as a composer is remarkable: over 800 choral works across all difficulty levels are currently in print, performed widely throughout the English-speaking world.

Althouse's contributions extend well beyond composition. He has co-created children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, edited respected vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and co-authored influential resources like The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His instructional materials for music classrooms include Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, and One-Page Composer Bios. As a writer member of ASCAP, Althouse regularly receives the ASCAP Special Award. He co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's inauguration in 2009. Based in Wake Forest, North Carolina, he has served on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and contributed articles to its quarterly publication.

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Why we love this

Althouse captures the spiritual's infectious joy without sacrificing musicality. The writing sits comfortably in a three-part mixed voicing while the rhythmic drive and dynamic arc keep singers engaged and audiences captivated from start to finish.

What to expect

This spiritual radiates warmth and immediacy. The straightforward rhythms and memorable melody invite singers to commit fully to the storytelling, while the layered closing feels like a natural swell of joy and celebration.

Who it's for

Choirs working with three-part mixed voicing will find this arrangement approachable and rewarding. Whether you're programming a holiday concert for a school, church, or community ensemble, this piece works for singers with modest experience while remaining musically satisfying.

How to get the most out of it

Keep the opening melody bright and uncluttered; the text "Run, run to Bethlehem" needs to feel urgent and energetic through the singers' tone, not just tempo.
Shape each dynamic change deliberately, allowing the contrasting middle section to feel genuinely different in weight and color before the return.
In the closing section where voices build on the men's melody, balance individual lines so the layering effect is clear without anyone disappearing.

How to use it

Place this as an accessible choral feature in a Christmas concert, or pair it with other spirituals and carols to create a thematic set. The twelve-page length and moderate difficulty make it ideal for mid-season rehearsals when you need strong audience appeal without extended preparation time.