Thunder!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht
Item: 00-PO-0000911
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Can you hear it "rumbling, tumbling, grumbling all over town?" In a minor key, but sure to be a major hit! The deep-sounding piano accompaniment and optional percussion add even more stormy drama!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0000911
Instrumentation:
Opt. Percussion
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped choral music education for over three decades, serving as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at major educational publishers, most recently Alfred Music. A prolific composer with more than 600 choral works and 75 larger songbooks and musicals in print, she has earned the ASCAP Special Music Award annually since 1987 and conducted honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979). She has taught at Oakland University in Michigan, Jersey City State College in New Jersey, and Meredith College in North Carolina. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees. She is also the former Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and recipient of their "Pillar of Leadership" award.
Why we love this
Albrecht captures genuine weather drama without losing the lightness that makes young singers eager to perform. The minor key anchors the piece musically while the onomatopoeia in the text (rumbling, tumbling, grumbling) gives singers concrete imagery to shape their phrasing and dynamics.
What to expect
A storm rolling in with personality and humor. The minor key gives it weight and drama, but the playful onomatopoeia keeps it from feeling heavy or overly serious. With the piano and optional percussion in motion, the piece builds a soundscape that singers and audiences can practically see and hear.
Who it's for
Middle school and high school choirs looking for a contemporary piece with theatrical flair and immediate appeal. Directors seeking repertoire that engages younger singers with text-painting and vivid imagery while remaining musically substantial enough for a concert program.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the descriptive language: "rumbling, tumbling, grumbling" should sound different each time, with the percussion parts highlighting those distinct textures.
- Balance the two parts so the second part doesn't disappear under the piano's dramatic accompaniment; rehearse them separately first.
- If using the optional percussion, introduce it gradually during rehearsals so singers stay focused on their lines before adding the extra energy.
- The minor key rewards careful attention to vowel shapes; keep vowels pure so the darker tonality sounds intentional rather than strained.
How to use it
Pair it with other Albrecht works or contemporary pieces for a full concert, or use it as an energy shift in a more traditional program. Its compact length (8 pages) and accessible voicing make it ideal for a mid-concert placement where you want to showcase your singers' ability to deliver characterization and dramatic expression.
Skills your students will build
- Text painting and musical imagery in a minor key
- Balancing two independent vocal lines with a prominent piano accompaniment
- Ensemble coordination with optional percussion parts
- Clarity and articulation on repeated syllables and onomatopoeia
- Dynamic control and phrasing to convey narrative and emotion