Song of Joy: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: Song of Joy: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-5797
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-5797

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$2.25

Shipped

One moment…

A wonderful teaching piece for young singers. The melodies are easy so you can focus on choral techniques such as a clear vocal tone, phrasing, and diction. It's a quick-learn, jubilant piece written especially for today's young choirs by Jay Althouse. Features a flowing "A" melody and a contrasting "Alleluia" section. For general or Christmas use.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Song of Joy: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample audio found.

No sample videos found.

Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081016627

SKU: 00-5797

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni. Early in his career, he worked as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. His compositional output exceeds 800 choral works across all levels, performed extensively throughout the English-speaking world.

Althouse is an ASCAP writer member and a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his standard music compositions. Beyond his choral catalog, he has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections, co-authored The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers, and created classroom resources including Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. He 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.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Althouse builds this piece around what young singers actually need to develop: focused, intentional singing on simple melodies that don't distract from the fundamentals. The flowing "A" section paired with a contrasting "Alleluia" moment gives you real musical architecture to rehearse without demanding advanced reading skills. Directors appreciate how quickly this lands with new singers while still offering something joyful to perform.

What to expect

Jubilant and unhurried, this piece radiates warmth without demanding technical virtuosity. The contrast between the sustained "A" section and the energetic "Alleluia" creates musical interest that keeps singers engaged and gives audiences something immediate to connect with.

Who it's for

Young choirs building foundational vocal skills and singers new to part-singing will find this accessible and rewarding. The 2-part voicing and straightforward melodies suit middle school choirs, select youth ensembles, or introductory treble voice sections in larger programs.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the flowing "A" melody with gentle, long-line phrasing rather than chopping it into small phrases. This teaches singers to sustain breath control while maintaining clarity.
Address diction first in isolated measures, then integrate it into the full line so that clarity becomes automatic rather than forced.
Prepare singers to contrast the energy and articulation of the "Alleluia" section against the lyrical opening, even though both sit comfortably in their ranges.
Use the quick-learn nature to your advantage by polishing one section deeply during early rehearsals before moving to the full piece.

How to use it

Use this as a solid opener on a winter or spring concert where you want an affirming, accessible piece that showcases clear singing. It works equally well for a Christmas program or secular holiday concert, and its quick-learn quality makes it ideal when you need flexible programming later in the season.