Simple Gifts: SSA Choral Octavo
American Shaker Song / arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0001300
$1.80
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
Your choirs will sound their best performing this elegant, contemporary arrangement of the well-known American folk song. Uplifting for school and church choirs alike. Accompaniment available on PianoTrax 4 CD (00-35870).
Simple Gifts: SSA Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001300
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse studied music education and music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later earned the Distinguished Alumni award. His extensive background in music publishing and rights administration at a major educational house informed his understanding of what works in the choral classroom, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during his tenure in that role.
As a composer, Althouse has over 800 choral works in print and is widely performed across English-speaking countries. A writer member of ASCAP and regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award, he has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on children's musicals, compiled respected vocal solo collections, co-authored influential books including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and written classroom resources on music theory and composer study. He serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and contributes regularly to their publications.
Why we love this
Althouse brings his deep knowledge of folk traditions and choral writing to this arrangement, creating something that honors the hymn's spiritual character without overcomplicating it. The setting works equally well in school and church settings, making it genuinely flexible programming. His experience arranging for choirs at every level shines through in writing that feels both polished and singable.
What to expect
The piece carries the spiritual warmth of its folk source while feeling contemporary and fresh. Althouse's setting emphasizes clarity and openness, allowing the beloved melody and text to resonate without unnecessary ornamentation.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves school and church choirs of mixed abilities. The SSA voicing makes it accessible to younger or developing choirs while remaining substantive enough for accomplished ensembles looking for elegant, performable repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the harmonic texture by thinking of the SSA voicing as three distinct colors rather than stacked blocks; blend your upper voices with the altos underneath rather than above them
- Let the text's message breathe; resist the urge to rush through phrases, especially in moments where the arrangement opens up
- Work the accompaniment into early rehearsals so singers can hear how Althouse's piano writing supports and frames their lines
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a concert focused on American roots music or spiritual traditions, where it can anchor a set of folk arrangements. It also works beautifully in a spring or holiday concert as a moment of genuine uplift and reflection.
Skills your students will build
- Singing SSA voicing with independent part security
- Shaping long phrases with textual clarity
- Blending voices across parts in close harmonic progressions
- Interpreting folk material in a contemporary choral arrangement