Two Negro Spirituals: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.25 USD

Two Negro Spirituals: SATB Choral Octavo

Name: Two Negro Spirituals: SATB Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-LG51254
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

I. He's the Lily of the Valley; II. Seekin' for a City

Arr. Alice Parker

Item: 00-LG51254

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$2.25

Shipped

One moment…

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Two Negro Spirituals: SATB Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample audio found.

No sample videos found.

Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Lawson-Gould Music Publishers

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 783556004486

SKU: 00-LG51254

More about this title

About the Arranger: Alice Parker

Alice Parker's career bridged composition, conducting, and pedagogy across more than five decades. She studied at Smith College and Juilliard, where she formed a creative partnership with Robert Shaw that produced hundreds of arrangements of American spirituals, hymns, and folksongs now performed by choirs worldwide. Her published output exceeds five hundred works spanning operas, cantatas, song cycles, and individual choral pieces.

Parker founded Melodious Accord, Inc. in 1985 to center her work on melody and vocal music fundamentals. She authored influential texts on choral improvisation, melodic style, and congregational singing, and created The Melodious Accord Hymnal featuring American folk hymns alongside settings of contemporary poets. Honored as Distinguished Composer of the Year by the American Guild of Organists, recipient of the Robert Shaw Award from the American Choral Directors Association, and holder of six honorary doctorates, Parker shaped the landscape of American choral music through both composition and the mentorship of singers and conductors.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Parker's approach to spirituals prioritizes melodic integrity and the deep emotional core of these songs without over-arranging them. The a cappella setting demands clean intonation and focused ensemble listening, making this ideal for choirs working on blend and balance. This octavo sits comfortably at concert and festival level, offering substance without unnecessary technical barriers.

What to expect

These spirituals carry the weight of lived experience and resilience, arranged here to honor their melodic strength and emotional directness. Singing them a cappella creates intimacy and vulnerability; the harmonies support the tune without drowning it, and the absence of accompaniment puts the full focus on the singers' voices and the message they carry.

Who it's for

SATB choirs at the high school, college, community, or church level who want to engage spirituals as serious repertoire. This works well for ensembles with solid intonation skills and a desire to program American sacred music with authenticity and care.

How to get the most out of it

Shape each spiritual with attention to textual meaning rather than harmonic complexity; let the words and melody guide your phrasing.
Establish a strong sense of unison or unison-plus-harmony in opening phrases to ground the ensemble before moving into fuller voicing.
Tune upward through the piece without rushing; a cappella work demands that singers monitor intonation as they build energy.

How to use it

Pair these spirituals with other American sacred or folk repertoire to build a thematic concert program on song traditions. They work equally well as a serious choral statement in a mixed-genre concert or as a standalone set for a festival or church service focused on American hymnic heritage.