Daybreak Music
08742843, SATB with solo, $2.50
Date released: 2001

Here is one that is sure to please both your choir and audience! Mark Hayes revitalizes two much-loved Christmas spirituals in this exciting arrangement. He weaves together “Mary Had a Baby” and “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” using a gospel shuffle beat and harmonies with a jazz flavor. Tenor or soprano solo with choral backup opens and closes the piece, and the whole choir takes the spotlight in the middle sections. Plenty of upward modulations build excitement all the way to the big finish. Once your choir catches the “feel” of the piece, they will have no difficulty with the parts or rhythms. The accompaniment, though powerful, is not particularly difficult, either. Consider the brass and rhythm instrumentation as the “coup de grace” to this dynamic, fun arrangement.