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The Gift of Music: SSA Choral Octavo

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The Gift of Music Cover Image
The Gift of Music: SSA Choral Octavo

The Gift of Music: SSA Choral Octavo

(You Are a Part of Me)

Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht

Item: 00-47673
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Description
Celebrate the connection we feel when we sing together. The heartfelt message at the center of this piece comes to life with sensitive choral writing and a touching text. Especially meaningful at graduation and end-of-year performances. A free sign language video is available online.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 8
UPC: 038081543666
SKU: 00-47673

More about this title

About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht

Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades through her prolific composing, conducting, and work as director of school choral publications at major educational publishers. Her output is staggering: more than 600 choral pieces and 75 larger works in print, paired with recognition from ASCAP every year since 1987. She has led honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, bringing her signature approach to choral movement and accessible, singable writing to thousands of students and directors.

Educated at Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1979; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), Albrecht has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. She resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Rollins College. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both Rollins and the University of Miami Frost School of Music, recognizing her sustained impact on music education.

Why we love this

Albrecht writes with genuine understanding of what makes a choral moment memorable without overcomplicating it. The SSA voicing is practical for mixed-age ensembles, and the piece's emotional core (celebrating connection through singing) gives students something real to express rather than just technical challenges to solve. A graduation piece that actually earns its place in the program.

What to expect

Warm and reflective, with the kind of directness that comes from genuine sentiment rather than sentimentality. The piece invites singers to feel the significance of singing together, creating a shared moment of connection that lingers.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced SSA and SSAA choirs looking for a meaningful graduation or end-of-year concert piece. Directors seeking repertoire with both musical substance and emotional relevance will find this especially valuable, as will ensembles wanting a moment that resonates with singers and audiences alike.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the text drive the phrasing; this piece rewards singers who understand what they are singing about and shape each phrase accordingly.
  • The sign language video is a powerful addition; consider whether your ensemble will learn it and how much rehearsal time that requires if you plan to perform it.
  • Balance the parts carefully in the SSA voicing so no line gets buried; Albrecht's writing is transparent, so intonation and blend matter more than volume.
  • Record the piece early and listen back as an ensemble to hear how the parts interact; this builds awareness of the larger emotional arc.

How to use it

Perfect as a concert closer or the anchor piece for a graduation ceremony, where its message about the gift of music lands with full weight. It also serves well in festival or contest settings where meaningful text and sensitive musicianship are valued.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with emotional awareness and text expression
  • Balancing SSA voicing to maintain clarity of all parts
  • Sustaining longer phrases with consistent breath support
  • Ensemble blend and intonation in consonant-rich harmonic writing

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