Uma Familia Cover Image

Uma Familia: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$27.99 USD
$27.99 USD
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Uma Familia Cover Image
Uma Familia: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Uma Familia: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-20129
$27.99
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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.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081186931
SKU: 00-20129

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 as a Distinguished Alumnus. His eight-year tenure in rights and licensing at a major educational publisher gave him insight into the full landscape of choral music; during that time he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. Today he is a prolific composer with more than 800 choral works in print across all levels of difficulty.

Althouse's output spans multiple genres and formats. He is an ASCAP writer member and a consistent recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his compositions. Beyond original works, he has co-authored children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and written widely adopted resources such as The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His choral work I Hear America Singing, co-written with Albrecht, was performed at President Obama's Inauguration by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs. Althouse currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and contributes to its quarterly publication.

Why we love this

Althouse captures Brazilian warmth and optimism without resorting to exotic clichés. The bilingual text (English with a single Portuguese phrase) feels organic rather than forced, and the message of unity lands with genuine sincerity that students connect with immediately. The recorded accompaniment brings authentic world music textures that transport your singers to a different place.

What to expect

Warm and inclusive, with the infectious rhythmic ease of Brazilian popular music. The silky melodic writing sits naturally in the voice and invites singers to enjoy the harmony rather than struggle with it.

Who it's for

Any choir looking for accessible, uplifting material with cross-cultural relevance. The straightforward voicing and joyful text work equally well for middle school choirs building confidence and high school ensembles seeking a concert piece with substance.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the rhythm section in the SoundTrax drive your rehearsals. Have singers listen to the recording multiple times before learning the voicing, so they absorb the Brazilian groove first.
  • Shape the 'world music' sounding phrases with light articulation and a relaxed jaw. The beauty comes from warmth, not tension.
  • Emphasize the Portuguese phrase with careful pronunciation and attention to the recorded model. Hearing how it sits in the harmonic texture helps singers nail both the language and the voicing.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a multicultural concert, or pair it with other world music selections to build a thematic program around global voices and unity. Its moderate length and bright energy make it an excellent closer for a concert, sending the audience out with genuine joy.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with rhythmic precision in a pop/world music idiom
  • Balancing English and Portuguese diction with stylistic authenticity
  • Blending harmonies while maintaining the independence of individual lines
  • Following a recorded accompaniment and syncing entrances with groove-based texture

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