Yo Vivo Cantando (I Live to Sing): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Althouse writes Latin-jazz harmonies that sit naturally in young voices without requiring advanced ensemble experience. The bilingual text and driving rhythmic energy make this piece genuinely exciting to teach and perform, not just pedagogically sound. Directors appreciate how the easy voice leading lets singers focus on style and character rather than struggling to find their parts.

Energetic and celebratory, with an infectious rhythmic pulse that comes straight from Caribbean and Latin traditions. The English-Spanish blend feels natural and joyful, anchored by harmonies that shimmer with jazz color while remaining rooted in accessibility.

This is ideal for developing 2-part choirs and younger singers encountering contemporary multicultural repertoire. Programs featuring world music, fusion styles, or bilingual repertoire gain immediate appeal and authenticity when this piece is included.

• Emphasize the conversational relationship between the two parts; they trade rhythmic and melodic ideas, so encourage singers to listen across the parts during rehearsal to understand the whole picture.
• Work the Spanish pronunciation early and separately from the English text so singers can commit the sounds to muscle memory before adding melodic demands.
• Lean into the Latin-jazz vocabulary; this piece thrives on syncopation and swing, so don't metronomically square up the rhythm even in slower sections.
• If you're using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse often without it so singers develop confidence in finding their own harmonic and rhythmic footing.

Use this as a standalone feature on a concert celebrating multicultural voices, or pair it with other world music selections to create thematic programming. Spring and fall concerts especially benefit from its uplifting energy and audience-friendly appeal; it also works beautifully in cultural celebration events or world music showcases.

• Singing in Spanish with authentic pronunciation and rhythm
• Hearing and singing Latin-jazz harmonies and syncopated rhythms
• Balancing bilingual text across two independent vocal lines
• Responding to call-and-response rhythmic patterns between voice parts