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Sun Don't Set in the Mornin': SATB Choral Octavo

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Sun Don't Set in the Mornin' Cover Image
Sun Don't Set in the Mornin': SATB Choral Octavo

Sun Don't Set in the Mornin': SATB Choral Octavo

Based on a Southern Folk Hymn

Adapted and arranged, with additional words, by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-24031
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Description
This adaptation of an American folk hymn has a fascinating text: "Sun don't set in the mornin'," and "Water don't rise when the stars glow." But, ultimately, "light shines over the world." A haunting melody and a simple, open-sounding piano accompaniment set the scene.

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

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081261393
SKU: 00-24031

More about this title

About the Arranger: 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 eight-year tenure as rights and licenses administrator at a major educational publisher gave him deep insight into what schools actually need, and he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that time.

With over 800 choral works in print, Althouse has established himself as a prolific voice in American choral writing across all levels. His compositions are performed regularly throughout the English-speaking world, and he is a writer member of ASCAP with multiple Special Award recognitions. Beyond composition, he has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on children's musicals and co-authored influential pedagogical texts including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. Althouse 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 setting captures the paradoxical beauty of the text without overcomplicating it. The piano writing is genuinely open and spacious, which lets the melody breathe and gives singers room to shape phrases naturally. This is the kind of arrangement that sounds effortless but requires real skill to compose.

What to expect

Haunting and meditative, with an almost spiritual quality despite the folk source. The melody feels ancient even as the text asks philosophical questions, creating a quiet tension between mystery and hope.

Who it's for

This octavo works well for intermediate to advanced SATB choirs seeking repertoire rooted in American tradition. It suits directors who value clarity and emotional directness over technical display.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the melody sit forward in the mix. The simplicity of the accompaniment means any muddiness in the vocal line becomes apparent, so precision in attacks and releases pays dividends.
  • Find the emotional weight in the text's logic. The opening impossibilities (sun not setting in morning, water not rising at starlight) should feel genuinely strange before resolving into the final affirmation.
  • Keep the accompaniment light and unhurried. A pianist who rushes will undo everything the arrangement accomplishes.

How to use it

Place this alongside other American spirituals or folk-derived sacred music for a concert exploring the intersection of tradition and personal meaning. Its 12-page length makes it substantial enough to anchor a segment without demanding a full concert around it.

Skills your students will build

  • Shaping long melodic lines with minimal harmonic support
  • Balancing clarity of text with musical phrasing
  • Singing with restraint and intentionality rather than volume
  • Reading open SATB voicings and understanding their acoustic effect

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