Soon I Will Be Done: SSATB, a cappella Choral Octavo

Name: Soon I Will Be Done: SSATB, a cappella Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-18746
Price: 3.50 USD
Availability: InStock

Arr. Mark Hayes

Item: 00-18746

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Mark Hayes' newest spirital arrangement is in the classic, time-honored choral style, with full, a cappella scoring throughout. Powerful sectional writing often contrasts the men with the women, and sudden dynamic changes add interest.

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 20

UPC: 038081173863

SKU: 00-18746

More about this title

About the Arranger: Mark Hayes

Mark Hayes has composed and arranged over 1,750 published works across classical, sacred, jazz, and popular idioms. A summa cum laude graduate from Baylor University with a degree in piano performance, he has guest conducted at Lincoln Center, the National Cathedral, and Carnegie Hall, premiering major works including his Requiem at Lincoln Center in 2013 and again at St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome as part of the Vatican-sponsored Festival Pro Musica E Arte Sacra.

Beyond choral music, Hayes is an accomplished orchestrator, record producer, and pianist with over 100 piano books in print. His work extends to musical theater, including orchestrations for the hit musical Madame Buttermilk and arrangements for new musicals staged at historic American theaters. In 2010, Baylor University Center for Christian Music Studies recognized him with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music, honoring his sustained contributions to the field.

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Why we love this

Hayes strips away unnecessary arrangement tricks and builds the spiritual's power through intelligent voice pairing and sharp dynamic contrast. The men-versus-women sectional writing creates theatrical momentum without losing the hymn-like dignity the spiritual demands, and the a cappella setting ensures every voice decision lands clearly in performance.

What to expect

Rooted in the spiritual tradition yet shaped by Hayes' contemporary harmonic language, this arrangement feels both reverent and alive. The alternating male and female sections create an almost call-and-response intimacy, while the full choir moments land with quiet, hard-earned power.

Who it's for

SATB choirs preparing for concert programming or festival competition. The piece suits choirs with solid ensemble blend and the maturity to handle sectional independence while maintaining unison moments.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the sectional exchanges between men and women so that each group projects equally; the drama lives in the contrast, not in one section overwhelming the other.
Prepare singers for the sudden dynamic changes by marking them in rehearsal as deliberate moments of repose or intensity rather than arbitrary shifts.
Tap the spiritual's inherent rhythmic groove early in preparation; Hayes' writing invites a natural pulse that will help the piece breathe without rushing.

How to use it

Pair this with other spirituals or sacred works for a thematic concert programming block, or feature it as a standalone piece that commands attention without requiring instrumental support. It works equally well in a spring concert, worship service, or festival context.