Yes, My Lord!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0004625
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Another great, original spiritual from Jay Althouse. Teach the refrain first and you'll find your singers can't wait to learn the rest of the piece. In just a rehearsal or two, they'll sound great and you'll be singing it all year long. YES, MY LORD! is a real gem! And the SoundTrax cassette is full of excitement.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0004625
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus. Early in his career, he spent eight years as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, Althouse has over 800 choral works published and performed throughout the English-speaking world.
Beyond composition, Althouse has contributed significantly to music education through authorship and collaboration. He co-wrote The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers with various partners, edited major vocal solo collections including Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and created reproducible classroom materials such as Ready to Read Music and One-Page Composer Bios. A member of ASCAP and regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award, Althouse has also co-written children's musicals and the choral work I Hear America Singing, performed at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. He resides in North Carolina and serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse designs this spiritual to unfold naturally in rehearsal, with a refrain hook that gets singers excited to tackle the full arrangement. The accessibility and immediate payoff make this ideal for directors working with developing singers who need quick wins without sacrificing musical substance.
What to expect
Yes, My Lord! radiates the joy and conviction of a traditional spiritual, built on an irresistible refrain that feels conversational and alive. The piece sits comfortably in the voice and invites singers to bring energy and personality to a celebration of affirmation.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits middle school and high school choirs, as well as community and church singers looking for accessible but engaging spiritual repertoire. The 2-part voicing and straightforward vocal writing make it achievable for groups with limited rehearsal time or mixed experience levels.
How to get the most out of it
- Isolate the refrain in your first rehearsal and drill it until it's rock solid; once singers own that hook, they'll approach the verse material with confidence and momentum.
- Lean into the spiritual tradition: encourage singers to feel the rhythmic lift and call-and-response character rather than treating this as straight notation.
- If you're using the recorded accompaniment, have singers listen to it once before rehearsing so they understand the rhythmic pocket and energy you're aiming for.
How to use it
Pair this with other spirituals or contemporary sacred works to create a thematic concert section that highlights the genre's accessibility and warmth. Its quick-to-learn nature also makes it useful as a concert opener or as a piece to add to an existing program if you need something that rehearses efficiently without taking rehearsal time away from weightier repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Singing 2-part harmony with independence
- Responding to call-and-response phrasing
- Interpreting rhythmic character in spiritual idiom
- Building confidence through early musical success