When We Sing: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0005594
$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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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0005594
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for more than three decades, first as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at major educational publishers and later as a prolific composer in her own right. Her catalog exceeds 600 choral works alongside 75 full-length musicals and songbooks, earning her consistent ASCAP Special Music Awards since 1987. She has conducted honor choirs at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College.
Albrecht holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A. in Music and Theater, 1976), the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979), and has been recognized with the Distinguished Alumna Award from both institutions. She chairs the Board of Trustees for the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and received their "Pillar of Leadership" award. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and frequent collaborator, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht and Althouse have crafted a piece with real pedagogical intelligence: the text does the heavy lifting, making the unifying message land naturally without sentimentality. A 2-part voicing keeps the technical barriers low while the optional sign language integration offers a concrete way to deepen student engagement and create an inclusive performance experience that resonates beyond the choir.
What to expect
Warm and earnest without being cloying. The song settles into your singers' voices quickly, inviting them to genuinely connect with each other and the audience. There's a quiet confidence in the simplicity, the kind that only works when the writing is truly honest.
Who it's for
Combined choirs in middle and high school settings, community ensembles, and adult volunteer choirs looking for inclusive, meaningful repertoire. The 2-part voicing makes it accessible to younger singers and mixed-ability groups while remaining musically satisfying.
How to get the most out of it
- Encourage singers to feel the rhythm of the text rather than impose a rigid pulse; this song thrives on natural phrasing and conversational quality.
- If incorporating sign language, integrate it during rehearsals early and often, treating it as a full musical element rather than an afterthought.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to establish ensemble security, but eventually pull back to let the singers' voices carry the emotional weight.
- Balance both parts evenly; this isn't a solo vehicle, and the message depends on the sense of "we" across all voices.
How to use it
This pairs beautifully as a standalone concert closer or as part of a thematic program exploring community and connection. Its accessibility makes it ideal for a spring concert or community showcase where audience engagement matters as much as technical polish.
Skills your students will build
- Unified ensemble blend in 2-part voicing
- Interpretive phrasing independent of bar lines
- Coordination of singing with expressive movement or sign language
- Communicating textual meaning through vocal tone and intention