Thank You, Soldiers Cover Image

Thank You, Soldiers: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$27.99 USD
$27.99 USD
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Thank You, Soldiers Cover Image
Thank You, Soldiers: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Thank You, Soldiers: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Words and music by Michael and Angela Souders

Item: 00-37862
$27.99
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Description
"Because of your great sacrifice, your country joins to sing." Patriotism and gratitude prevail in this moving tribute to the men and women of our armed forces. Appropriate for any choir with any combination of concert band, string, or full orchestra accompaniment---or use the professionally-recorded SoundTrax CD. As a special touch, project animated images from the "Thank You, Soldiers" VideoTrax DVD on a large screen during performance. VideoTrax includes accompaniment-only recording and your choice of with or without overlaid lyrics. To view a trailer of the VideoTrax, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YqBMxYCkVI

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081423340
SKU: 00-37862

More about this title

About the Composer: Michael Souders

Michael Souders

Michael Souders has shaped his compositional voice through dual careers as an elementary school music educator in Virginia and a prolific choral composer for Alfred Music. His work centers on what he calls "Positive American Music," a philosophy reflected in thousands of performances worldwide; his YouTube channel has garnered over 4.5 million views and a dedicated subscriber base of more than 3,600 people. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Music and Worship from James Madison University, where he studied arrangement and recording under composer Robert W. Smith while performing as pianist with the jazz ensemble and trumpet soloist with the marching ensemble.

Since entering the classroom in 2005, Souders has written music directly for his students, which explains why his compositions resonate with teachers seeking repertoire that serves both musical and emotional needs. He originally performed in musical theater throughout his high school years in Pennsylvania, experience that informs the theatrical communication embedded in his choral writing.

Why we love this

Souders crafts patriotic repertoire that avoids sentimentality while delivering genuine emotional impact. The availability of the SoundTrax recording removes a major production barrier for choirs without easy access to instrumental accompaniment, making this appropriate for any school context. Pairing it with VideoTrax projection transforms a concert moment into a multimedia tribute that resonates with audiences and singers alike.

What to expect

The piece radiates sincere gratitude without bombast, creating space for both reflection and affirmation. When the choir blends with the professional accompaniment, the combined sound achieves a polish and warmth that elevates the emotional stakes of the text.

Who it's for

This octavo serves choirs of any size and voice configuration seeking a meaningful patriotic offering for summer concerts, 4th of July events, or memorial programs. Directors working with limited instrumental resources will find the SoundTrax CD invaluable, though the piece also works beautifully with live band, strings, or full orchestra if available.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the choir's tone with warmth rather than brightness; the accompaniment carries harmonic richness, so focus your singers on legit vowels and supported lines that blend into the recorded sound.
  • Test the audio and video synchronization well before the performance date. Start playback with enough lead time so singers can lock in with the recorded accompaniment before the first entrance.
  • Project the VideoTrax on a large, easily visible screen positioned where it enhances rather than distracts from the choir. Ensure lighting in the performance space allows the video images to read clearly.
  • Rehearse the choir against the recorded accompaniment multiple times; singers must become comfortable with the recorded tempo and not rush or drag against it.

How to use it

Program this as a concert closer or centerpiece in a patriotic set; its multimedia potential makes it a natural focal point. For schools incorporating 4th of July or Veterans Day commemorations into the academic year, the VideoTrax offers an accessible way to create a professional-caliber presentation without extensive additional staging or rehearsal burden.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with ensemble cohesion against recorded accompaniment
  • Sustaining intonation and line quality in a patriotic style
  • Responding to visual cues (VideoTrax) while maintaining choral blend
  • Interpreting lyrical text with sincerity and restraint

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