Uma Familia Cover Image

Uma Familia: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.25 USD
$2.25 USD
Skip to product information
Uma Familia Cover Image
Uma Familia: SATB Choral Octavo

Uma Familia: SATB Choral Octavo

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-20126
makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$2.25
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Uma Familia: SATB Choral Octavo

$2.25
View

Uma Familia: SAB Choral Octavo

$2.25
View

Uma Familia: 2-Part Choral Octavo

$2.25
View
Description
No nation better represents the mixing of "world" music than Brazil, and the pure harmonies and silky melodies of its pop music have never gone out of style. Jay Althouse recreates this Brazilian feel with Uma Familia ("We are one family"). The text, which reminds us "we are all one great family, one people," is in English with a single phrase in Portuguese. It's fresh, timely, and a joy to sing. And the "world music" sounding SoundTrax captures the joy that is Brazil. A cross-cultural gem.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Uma Familia: 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.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081186900
SKU: 00-20126

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni award. His career spans both publishing and composition; 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. As a composer, Althouse has over 800 choral works in print, performed regularly across English-speaking countries. He is an ASCAP writer member and a consistent recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his contributions to standard music.

Beyond composition, Althouse has shaped music education through multiple angles. He co-wrote children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and co-authored influential books like The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His classroom resources (Ready to Read Music, Sixty Music Quizzes, One-Page Composer Bios) have reached countless teachers. Notably, he co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. Althouse currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and resides in North Carolina.

Why we love this

Althouse nails the specificity of Brazilian pop without resorting to stereotypes or overcomplicated arrangements. The blend of English text with a Portuguese phrase feels organic rather than tokenistic, giving singers genuine cultural ownership while keeping the piece accessible. The recorded accompaniment captures authentic rhythmic and harmonic color, making this an ideal entry point into world music programming that doesn't feel didactic.

What to expect

Warm and inclusive, with the easy confidence of a song that knows exactly what it wants to say. The Brazilian harmonic language feels fresh without being exotic or distant; it welcomes you in rather than showing off.

Who it's for

Choirs at the high school through adult community level looking to program culturally relevant music that doesn't demand extensive rehearsal time. Ensembles seeking a joyful, uplifting piece with a timely message about unity and inclusion.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the recorded accompaniment set the groove early in rehearsals so your singers can lock into the Brazilian rhythmic feel rather than fighting it.
  • Emphasize the silky quality of the melodies by encouraging legit tone and sustained phrasing, especially in the soprano line.
  • Shape the Portuguese phrase with intentional care; a single moment of cultural authenticity can shift how the entire piece lands with your audience.
  • Consider the harmonic simplicity as an asset: it frees singers to focus on color, blend, and the emotional content of the "we are one family" message.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a closer on a concert that explores global perspectives, or as a standalone opener that establishes an accessible, inclusive tone for your season. Its straightforward message and accessibility make it equally effective for community partnerships, diversity-focused programming, or simply as a repertoire piece that genuinely feels good to sing.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with sustained legit tone across phrase lengths
  • Blending non-English text (Portuguese) with clear diction
  • Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop-influenced accompaniment
  • Harmonic listening and blend in simple but effective chord progressions
  • Performing music from Brazilian and Latin American traditions

You May Also Like