Worthy to be Praised!: SSA Choral Octavo

$2.20 USD

Worthy to be Praised!: SSA Choral Octavo

Name: Worthy to be Praised!: SSA Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-42798
Price: 2.20 USD
Availability: InStock

By Byron J. Smith

Item: 00-42798

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One moment…

After a rubato opening, this robust work soon breaks into a driving gospel feel that will raise the roof! Now available for SSA, this classic continues to inspire twenty years after it was first published.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Worthy to be Praised!: SSA Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Lawson-Gould

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 038081483832

SKU: 00-42798

More about this title

About the Composer: Byron J. Smith

Byron J. Smith has established himself as a composer whose sacred and spiritual works connect with choirs seeking music that balances technical depth with emotional accessibility. His compositions often bridge traditional hymnic language with contemporary rhythmic energy, creating pieces that feel both rooted and vital.

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Why we love this

Smith's arrangement captures everything that makes gospel feel irresistible: rhythmic vitality, vocal interplay, and genuine joy in the writing. The SSA voicing opens this work to more choirs than ever before, and the sixteen pages give you enough musical substance to justify programming it as a centerpiece rather than filler.

What to expect

The piece opens with introspection and space, inviting listeners to lean in and listen. Then the beat arrives like a homecoming, full of life and drive, demanding participation and joy from everyone in the room.

Who it's for

SSA choirs looking for repertoire with soul and energy, whether you're preparing for contest, a spring concert, or a festival. This piece works equally well for high school and college choirs, and its gospel idiom appeals to singers who want to feel the music they're performing.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the rubato opening with confidence. This unmetered passage sets the emotional foundation, so let the singers breathe and shape the line before the energy shifts.
Lock the gospel groove early in rehearsal. Once the driving feel takes hold, keep the pulse steady and let the rhythm section (if you have one) anchor the ensemble.
Balance the SSA voicing carefully during the robust sections. Sopranos can overshadow the altos and second sopranos, so check blend frequently and adjust seating or dynamics as needed.
Use the contrast between the quiet opening and the uptempo sections to shape the arc. Singers who understand this emotional journey will deliver with conviction.

How to use it

Program this as a high-energy moment in a concert that otherwise features contemplative or complex repertoire. Its accessible gospel language and vibrant character make it an excellent closer or pre-closing number that leaves audiences energized rather than reflective.