Sun Don't Set in the Mornin': SAB Choral Octavo
Based on a Southern Folk Hymn
Adapted and arranged, with additional words, by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0000074
$1.65
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0000074
More about this title
About the Arranger: 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 in music spans composition, publishing administration, and music education; he spent eight years managing rights and licenses for a major educational publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America.
As a composer, Althouse has more than 800 choral works in print across all choir levels, performed widely throughout the English-speaking world. He is an active ASCAP member and regular recipient of their Special Award for compositions. Beyond choral music, he has co-written children's musicals with Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, and authored or co-authored influential books including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book, Accent on Composers, and I Hear America Singing (performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration). Althouse currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and resides in North Carolina.
Why we love this
The paradoxical poetry of this folk hymn creates immediate intrigue: lines that seem to contradict physics actually express spiritual conviction. Althouse's arrangement honors that tension through restrained accompaniment and a melody that invites genuine ensemble connection, giving singers something meaningful to sink their teeth into without overwhelming a developing SAB choir.
What to expect
Haunting and introspective, with an undertone of quiet hope. The stark opening invites contemplation; as the arrangement unfolds, it builds toward affirmation without losing its reflective quality. The open-sounding piano accompaniment creates space for voices to breathe and resonates with the hymn's folk roots.
Who it's for
Directors leading developing or intermediate SAB choirs looking for repertoire that connects spiritual meaning to accessible harmony. This works equally well in church settings, high school festivals, or community choirs where singers benefit from pieces that challenge without frustrating.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the text shape your phrasing rather than forcing symmetrical phrases; the irregular logic of the opening lines deserves thoughtful breath placement and attention to word stress.
- Keep the piano accompaniment transparent and spacious; avoid the urge to add dynamic swells, allowing the hymn-like simplicity to do the work.
- Balance the alto line carefully in the opening sections; it often carries essential harmonic color that can disappear if sopranos and baritones overshadow it.
- Build gradually toward the final message ("light shines over the world") so the resolution feels earned rather than inevitable.
How to use it
Pair this with other American folk spirituals for a program exploring faith and folklore, or place it as a reflective moment between more extroverted pieces. Its intimate character makes it well-suited to concerts with themes of resilience, light, or seasonal transition.
Skills your students will build
- Singing SAB voicing with secure alto independence
- Interpreting text-driven phrasing in folk hymns
- Blending within open harmonies and sustained chords
- Following a simple, supportive piano accompaniment