Sit Down!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Oh, Won't You Sit Down? / Sit Down, Servant
Arr. Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0002164
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
Here's a unique partnering of two spirituals: "Oh, Won't You Sit Down" and "Sit Down, Servant." Each melody is presented individually, then combined with an additional counter-line (high voices in the 3-part edition, an optional descant in the 2-part edition). Limited range for boys in the 3-part edition, so it's great for changing male voices. Don't miss the swinging SoundTrax CD that will add excitement to your performance. A new spiritual classic arrangement. Included on Sally's "In the Spotlight!" Video, #19803.
Sit Down!: 2-Part 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
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0002164
More about this title
About the Arranger: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades as a composer, arranger, conductor, and publisher. Her catalog includes more than 600 choral works and 75 larger musicals and songbooks; she has received the ASCAP Special Music Award annually since 1987. As Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music, she established herself as a champion of accessible, engaging repertoire for singers at all levels. Her conducting has been featured at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and her innovative approach to choral movement has influenced music educators nationwide.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A., 1976) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979). She has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees. She resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht's genius here lies in layering two familiar spirituals into a single, sophisticated arrangement without overwhelming your singers. The optional descant gives you flexibility: use it to add texture and lift, or omit it for a cleaner two-part blend. This is the kind of arrangement that sounds substantial and polished while remaining genuinely accessible to emerging choirs.
What to expect
Warm, grounded, and joyful. The paired spirituals create a meditative quality that gradually lifts into something more celebratory, especially when the descant enters. There's a sense of timelessness here, rooted in tradition yet delivered with contemporary arranging clarity.
Who it's for
Two-part choirs looking for accessible sacred repertoire with substance and style. This works beautifully for middle school, high school, and community choirs seeking spirituals that showcase good four-part writing without requiring extensive vocal maturity.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the two melodic lines carefully during the combination sections. The descant should enhance rather than overshadow the primary melody, so adjust dynamics as needed during rehearsal.
- Lean into the spiritual tradition by encouraging legato phrasing and warm vowel production; these melodies deserve the space and breath that comes from singing through phrases rather than clipping the ends.
- The SoundTrax accompaniment recording sets a swinging groove that can anchor young singers rhythmically. Use it selectively in rehearsal to build confidence, then gradually reduce reliance on it as your singers internalize the pulse.
How to use it
Program this alongside other spiritual arrangements to build a thematic set, or use it as a concert closer that leaves the audience with something memorable and uplifting. It pairs well with African American choral literature and works as both a concert piece and a community-building number for your singers.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in two-part harmony with independence and blend
- Phrasing and legato singing through longer melodic lines
- Listening to and balancing a descant line against a primary melody
- Spiritual interpretation and historical awareness of the genre
- Maintaining rhythmic precision within a swinging accompaniment