Simple Gifts (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 Cover Image

Simple Gifts (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

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Simple Gifts (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 Cover Image
Simple Gifts (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Simple Gifts (Medium High Voice), from Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

14 Folk Songs Arranged for Solo Voice and Piano... For Recitals, Concerts, and Contests

Hayes

Item: 00-A-00015906
$4.99
Digital Download
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Additional Details
Series: For Solo Singers
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00015906

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 was later honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. His career spans both publishing and composition; he spent eight years managing rights and licenses for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.

As a composer, Althouse has over 800 choral works published and performed widely across the English-speaking world. He is an ASCAP writer member and frequent recipient of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond original composition, he has compiled and arranged several respected vocal solo collections, co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, and authored numerous educational resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book, Accent on Composers, and Ready to Read Music. His collaborative choral work I Hear America Singing was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's Inauguration in 2009. Althouse currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and contributes regularly to its publications.

Why we love this

Althouse's arrangement honors the spiritual roots of "Simple Gifts" while making it genuinely singable for recital and festival contexts. The medium high voice setting sits comfortably in a range that doesn't demand excessive belting or excessive head voice, allowing singers to focus on the lyrical beauty and storytelling. The SoundTrax accompaniment is shaped with enough harmonic interest to engage a listener without overpowering the vocalist.

What to expect

"Simple Gifts" carries the quiet conviction of a spiritual built on gratitude and acceptance. Althouse's setting preserves that meditative warmth while adding harmonic depth that feels both grounded and uplifting, making space for the singer to communicate sincerity without sentimentality.

Who it's for

Soloists preparing repertoire for recitals, competitions, and festival performances will find this a reliable choice that showcases both vocal quality and musical maturity. Singers in the medium high range who want a piece grounded in American musical tradition yet refined for concert presentation will connect with Althouse's treatment.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the words breathe; this hymn-like melody benefits from a natural, conversational phrasing that follows the text rather than metronomic counting.
  • Balance transparency in the accompaniment mix so your voice remains the clear center throughout. Adjust levels in the player if needed.
  • Find the steady, meditative tempo that allows you to sing the longer phrases without rushing. The gift of simplicity lies in unhurried delivery.
  • Shape the dynamic arc gently; resist the urge to build too much volume. A consistent, warm dynamic with subtle swells creates intimacy.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece in a recital focused on American song or folk traditions, where it can anchor a thematic set. It also pairs beautifully in a mixed program as a moment of reflective contrast between more dramatic art songs or larger theatrical pieces.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustained legit singing through longer phrases at a comfortable medium-high tessitura
  • Expressive use of text to shape musical phrase direction
  • Integration of solo voice with recorded accompaniment, including secure ensemble awareness
  • Musical clarity and diction in a folk-spiritual idiom

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