The Lake: SATB Choral Octavo
Words by Edgar Allan Poe, music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0003233
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Here's a unique choral setting of a spine-tingling poem by Edgar Allan Poe. Jay's riveting music is a perfect complement to the unconventional text. A rewarding endeavor for mixed choirs.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003233
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni recipient. Early in his career, he spent eight years managing rights and licenses for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. His compositional output spans over 800 choral works performed regularly across the English-speaking world.
As a writer member of ASCAP, Althouse is a consistent recipient of the organization's Special Award for excellence in standard music composition. Beyond his choral catalog, he has co-created children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and authored classroom resources such as Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. His collaborative work I Hear America Singing was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. He currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and resides in North Carolina.
Why we love this
Althouse pairs Poe's darkly atmospheric text with music that honors the poem's unsettling edge rather than softening it. The setting sits at that sweet spot where literary sophistication meets singable voicing, making it equally compelling for a concert audience and an adjudicated festival. Mixed choirs appreciate repertoire with genuine personality, and this delivers it.
What to expect
The music captures the haunting, mysterious quality embedded in Poe's language while remaining grounded in practical choral sonorities. Singers experience both the challenge of unconventional text declamation and the satisfaction of bringing atmosphere to life through harmonic color and dynamic shape.
Who it's for
Mixed choirs preparing for concert or festival performance will find a setting with enough musical substance and textual intrigue to engage serious singers. Directors seeking repertoire that combines literary merit with accessible SATB writing, without resorting to oversimplified arrangements, will recognize this as a strong choice.
How to get the most out of it
- Study the poem separately before rehearsing the music. Understanding Poe's imagery and mood will inform how your singers shape phrases and shape consonants with intention.
- Balance transparency and intensity in the harmonic language. Althouse's writing often relies on clear voice leading, so precision in intonation pays immediate dividends.
- Consider the pacing of your overall program if this is a contest entry. At 12 pages, it's substantial enough to be a program centerpiece but distinctive enough to stand alone if programmed with contrasting works.
How to use it
This octavo works as a concert highlight when paired with lighter or more traditional fare, providing tonal contrast and emotional depth. It also stands as a compelling contest selection for choirs confident in their ability to handle literary texts and nuanced musical interpretation.
Skills your students will build
- Text declamation with unconventional poetic language
- Harmonic awareness through careful voice leading
- Dynamic shaping and phrasing in a non-traditional harmonic context
- Ensemble intonation with chromaticism and modal inflection