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Shout the News!: SSAB, <i>a cappella</i> Choral Octavo

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Shout the News! Cover Image
Shout the News!: SSAB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Shout the News!: SSAB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-23102

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Description
We can't wait to shout the news of this sensational seasonal spiritual from the incomparable Jay Althouse. It's got an exciting declarative chorus, a funky contrapuntal "Hallelujah" section, and the best in a cappella harmony. You'll want to perform this gem year after year. Awesome and singable for SATB choirs, and equally festive for choirs with fewer men than women in the SSAB.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 8
UPC: 038081222844
SKU: 00-23102

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. His eight years as a rights and licenses administrator at a major educational music publisher gave him deep insight into what choirs need, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that tenure.

With more than 800 published works for choirs across all levels, Althouse has become one of the most performed choral composers in the English-speaking world. Beyond composition, he has co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, co-authored bestselling choral resources like The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and created several reproducible classroom materials. He is a writer member of ASCAP and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Althouse served on the board of the North Carolina Master Chorale and currently sits on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

Why we love this

Althouse writes spiritual arrangements that sound effortlessly singable while delivering genuine harmonic interest. The funky "Hallelujah" section sets this apart from standard Christmas fare, and the SSAB voicing solves a real scheduling problem for mixed choirs without pushing any section into uncomfortable territory.

What to expect

The piece radiates joy and celebration from the first declarative chorus, with an energy that feels both traditional and contemporary. The funky contrapuntal section brings a playful, rhythmic swagger that lifts the spiritual into something vibrant and modern, while the a cappella writing showcases clean, bright harmony throughout.

Who it's for

This arrangement fits choirs with mixed voice distributions, particularly those with more treble singers than lower voices. It works equally well for standard SATB ensembles seeking a festive, accessible spiritual that doesn't require extensive technical rehearsal.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the groove clearly in the "Hallelujah" section before layering in the counterpoint; let the rhythm section pulse with confidence and the other voices slot in on top.
  • Shape the declarative chorus with dynamic contrast between the call-and-response moments to emphasize the news being proclaimed.
  • Balance the four parts carefully in close a cappella harmony by having singers listen horizontally to their own line while tracking the harmonic pillar of the middle voices.
  • Use strategic breaths at phrase endings rather than individual gasps to maintain the sense of continuous, joyful energy.

How to use it

Include this in a Christmas concert as an uplifting midpoint moment between slower carols and final processional pieces. Its singable style and 8-page length make it ideal for choirs adding seasonal repertoire mid-season without extensive rehearsal demands.

Skills your students will build

  • Part independence in close a cappella harmony
  • Rhythmic precision in syncopated and contrapuntal sections
  • Dynamic shaping and phrasing within a cappella writing
  • Stylistic understanding of spiritual traditions
  • Breath control and line sustenance without instrumental support

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