When We Sing: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0005593
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
We share and believe the simple message of this heartfelt song: "When we sing together, we put our differences aside." This universal theme makes for an ideal combined choir feature. Perform with sign language to add an expressive visual element (available on the When We Sing! DVD)!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005593
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has spent more than three decades shaping choral music for young singers as a composer, conductor, and clinician. Her catalog exceeds 600 choral works, alongside 75 larger-scale musicals and songbooks. She has led honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and served as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music. Her consistent recognition by ASCAP (annual Special Music Award recipient since 1987) reflects her sustained impact on choral education.
Albrecht earned a B.A. in Music and Theater from Rollins College in 1976, followed by an M.A. in Drama and an M.M. in Accompanying from the University of Miami. She has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. In recent years, she has 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 lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht and Althouse crafted a piece that functions as both a musical statement and a meaningful classroom moment. The message resonates with students, making rehearsal feel purposeful beyond technique; the optional sign language integration transforms performance into something genuinely memorable. You'll find the SAB voicing sits comfortably for combined choirs, balancing accessibility with genuine musical interest.
What to expect
The piece carries warmth without sentimentality. Singing "When we sing together, we put our differences aside" creates an immediate sense of shared purpose. The straightforward melody invites singers to invest emotionally in the message rather than wrestle with technical demands.
Who it's for
Combined choirs at the middle school or high school level, or any all-school ensemble that brings together singers of varied experience. Directors seeking music that builds ensemble cohesion and gives students meaningful text to sing will find genuine pedagogical value here.
How to get the most out of it
- Rehearse the optional sign language separately from the vocal line if you plan to include it; movement will feel natural only after singers know the music well.
- Let the recorded accompaniment guide early rehearsals so singers anchor their parts solidly before you pull it back in final performances.
- Shape the dynamic arc to match the emotional intent of the text; the simplicity of the melody invites singers to pour meaning into dynamics and phrasing rather than technical display.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a concert closer, offering a moment of unity that sends the audience home thinking about what they just witnessed. It also serves as an effective vehicle for teaching younger singers what a concert performance looks like when combined with more elaborate fare.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining a musical phrase while maintaining ensemble blend in three-part voicing
- Coordinating vocal line with choreography or sign language
- Interpreting text expressively through dynamic and tempo control