Scarborough Fair: SSA Choral Octavo
Arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0003780
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A fresh, new, up-tempo arrangement of the popular English folk song. A great piano part drives this Jay Althouse arrangement from the opening measures. The familiar melody and superb voice leading make this an excellent concert and contest piece to show off your choir's talents. Unique!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003780
More about this title
About the Arranger: 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. His eight-year tenure in rights and licensing administration at a major educational publisher gave him deep insight into what choirs need; he also served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that time.
As a composer, Althouse has more than 800 choral works in circulation across all levels of difficulty, performed consistently throughout English-speaking countries. He holds ASCAP membership and regularly receives their Special Award for compositions in standard music. Beyond his choral catalog, he has co-created children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, compiled widely adopted vocal solo collections, and authored essential classroom resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His choral work I Hear America Singing, co-written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Althouse resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse strips away the solemn, period-piece treatment this ballad usually receives and replaces it with genuine forward momentum. The active piano part anchors the arrangement throughout, giving your accompanist real work to do and your singers something energetic to sing against. This is the version that reminds audiences why Scarborough Fair endures: it swings.
What to expect
Energetic and purposeful, with the kind of rhythmic lift that makes audiences sit forward. The familiar melody floats over a propulsive accompaniment, turning a medieval tragedy into something that feels urgent and alive.
Who it's for
SSA choirs looking for a folk arrangement that feels contemporary without losing the song's narrative core. Directors preparing for festival or contest programming will appreciate both the accessibility and the performance impact this arrangement delivers.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the piano part front and center from the first measure; it's not decorative but structural. The rhythmic drive it provides helps SSA singers stay grounded and aligned.
- Shape the familiar melody without dragging it. Althouse's tempo marking supports natural phrasing, so trust it rather than slowing for lyrical effect.
- Balance upper voices clearly in the SSA texture. The superb voice leading he's crafted will shine only if each part can be heard independently.
- Pay attention to the text setting in faster passages. Diction clarity becomes essential when tempo picks up; mark breath spots early in rehearsal.
How to use it
Pair this with slower, more introspective repertoire to create programming contrast; its forward energy works beautifully as a closer or as a bridge between two different moods. It's also strong festival material, clear and efficient enough to showcase choir technique without requiring exhaustive rehearsal time.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining independent voice lines in three-part texture
- Singing rhythmically active melody against a driving accompaniment
- Balancing lyrical phrasing with tempered forward motion
- Collaborative listening across parts in a streamlined arrangement