United We Stand (An American Medley): Cello: Choral Instrumental Parts
Arr. Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PC-0016668_VC1
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Description
This stirring tribute to America is the perfect finale for your upcoming concert. After a stunning opening fanfare, excerpts of "Simple Gifts," "America, the Beautiful," "America," and the chorus of "Battle Hymn" are presented, leading up to a big final statement of the fanfare. The audience may also sing along on two sections of the choral. All three voicings are compatible, making this the perfect choice for a festival or joint finale. Add the full Concert Band arrangement and/or the StringPax and get your entire school involved. A SoundPax for brass and percussion is also available.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
124
SKU:
00-PC-0016668_VC1
Instrumentation:
StringPax
More about this title
About the Arranger: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over three decades as a composer, conductor, and clinician with a distinctive focus on integrating movement into choral performance. Her catalog of more than 600 published choral works and 75 larger musicals and songbooks reflects her prolific output, while her annual ASCAP Special Music Award recognition (since 1987) confirms her standing in the field. She has conducted honor choirs at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and served as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications for leading educational music publishers, including Alfred Music.
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. A Cleveland native, she now resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband Jay Althouse, also a respected composer and arranger. 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.
Why we love this
This arrangement transforms four beloved American songs into a dramatically satisfying concert closer that invites your entire musical community to participate. The fanfare framing gives the medley architectural weight, while the audience singalong sections create an emotionally resonant finale that extends beyond the stage. The compatibility across all three voicings and the availability of complementary band and string parts make this a genuinely flexible choice for joint programming or festival use.
What to expect
A sense of gathering and unity runs through this medley, beginning with a bold, ceremonial fanfare and moving through quiet reverence in the beloved hymn excerpts before building to a powerful restatement. The arrangement respects the dignity and emotional weight of these American songs while creating space for collective participation, evoking both patriotic pride and communal belonging.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves choirs performing at end-of-year concerts, summer festivals, patriotic celebrations, or joint school events where multiple ensembles want to collaborate on a meaningful finale. Singers at all levels appreciate the melodic familiarity and the opportunity to anchor an audience moment, making it equally valuable for mixed choirs at the high school level and experienced community or church choirs.
How to get the most out of it
- Prepare the audience singalong sections during the concert program or with printed inserts; clarity on which moments they join makes the experience seamless and prevents hesitation.
- Differentiate the character of each medley excerpt through tempo and dynamic shape rather than radical reinterpretation; let the familiar melodies speak while your choir provides context and support.
- If performing with band, string, or both, schedule a combined rehearsal before dress rehearsal to lock the opening fanfare and closing statement together.
- Balance the narrative arc: the opening fanfare should feel ceremonial and commanding, the middle excerpts reflective and warm, and the final fanfare triumphant and full.
How to use it
Reserve this for your final piece of the season or your most significant concert programming slot. The medley format and audience participation components make it ideal for graduation celebrations, summer pops concerts, or spring festivals where you want to send singers and listeners home with a shared emotional experience. If your school performs a combined concert with band and orchestra, this arrangement becomes the natural choice for a grand finale that involves every ensemble.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in multiple voice parts while listening to and supporting instrumental accompaniment (choral-instrumental balance)
- Connecting emotional interpretation to text and historical context across varied song styles and eras
- Maintaining rhythmic and harmonic integrity during transitions between song excerpts with contrasting musical characters
- Leading audience participation and managing the theatrical dimension of performance