(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher: SSAA, a cappella Choral Octavo
Words and music by Gary Jackson, Carl Smith, and Raynard Miner / arr. Kirby Shaw
Item: 00-PO-0006484
$2.10
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
One moment…
Description
A bona fide hit that ranks among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, this undeniably happy tune is also in the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. Having been recorded by popular artists in nearly every decade since the 1960s, the song truly stands the test of time. A cappella groups will love Kirby Shaw's accessible treatment, with driving rhythms and bright choral sonorities to spare.
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher: SSAA, a cappella Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006484
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Jackson
Gary Jackson co-wrote one of the most enduring pop standards of the modern era, a song that has transcended its original era to become a staple of American music. His work as a songwriter helped define the optimistic sound of soul and pop music, creating melodies and lyrics that continue to resonate across generations and musical styles.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures what made this song a phenomenon while stripping away the production to reveal the melodic and rhythmic heart. The driving sonorities and accessible voicing mean your group can deliver genuine joy without wrestling with technical complexity, which is exactly when an audience feels the music most.
What to expect
Pure affirmation. The song radiates optimism and buoyancy, with rhythmic precision giving it drive and the layered voicing creating warmth without heaviness. Sing it and you'll understand why it has lived in popular culture for over 60 years.
Who it's for
SSAA groups at the high school through community level who want a guaranteed crowd-pleaser with real musical substance. This works equally well for groups building confidence or those looking for a program opener that sets an energetic tone.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the rhythmic momentum steady throughout; this song's infectious quality depends on forward motion rather than rubato.
- Balance the melody line clearly against the supporting voices so the hook cuts through even in the a cappella texture.
- Let the bright vowels land naturally on the highest notes; don't strain for volume when clarity will carry the message.
How to use it
Open a concert with this and you've won the room immediately. It also pairs nicely as a spring or end-of-year closer when you want to send the audience out smiling, or drop it into a program that mixes classic pop standards with more contemporary material.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in a cappella ensemble without instrumental grounding
- Balancing melodic clarity against sustained harmonic backgrounds
- Singing with consistent energy across longer phrase structures
- Blending bright vowel sounds while preserving individual voice part independence