13 (Choral Highlights From The Broadway Musical) (arr. Roger Emerson) - Drums: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Emerson captures the heart of this contemporary musical without oversimplifying the arrangement. Two-part writing here means accessibility without sacrificing the energy and harmonic sophistication that makes the show work; singers get to own these songs rather than just accompany them. The collection gives you flexibility to program individual numbers or build a fuller concert moment around the story.

These songs pulse with the energy and emotional clarity that made the show a cultural moment. The arrangement honors that immediacy while keeping the voice at the center; the accompaniment supports rather than crowds, letting singers feel the intimacy of the lyrics and the drive of the music.

This collection works for developing choirs that want contemporary material with substance, as well as for stronger ensembles looking to program Broadway alongside their main season. It's equally suited to pop or show choir units and to traditional concert choirs that want to broaden their repertoire.

• Balance the pop idiom with genuine vocal tone. These songs live in contemporary music, but your singers will sound best when they commit to the same breath support and line clarity they use in classical repertoire.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish groove and tempo, then gradually move toward ensemble independence so the singers lead rather than follow.
• Check voicing doublings across both parts before rehearsal. Emerson's two-part writing often gives each part distinct material; clarifying who has the melody or countermelody in each phrase prevents the arrangement from getting muddy.
• Shape the lyrics with specificity. Broadway text carries character and storytelling; students who understand what each song is about will phrase and articulate with far more intention.

Program individual songs as concert openers or closers to connect with audiences who know the show, or assemble a medley for a pops concert that celebrates contemporary musical theatre. The octavo format also makes these accessible for classroom performance or informal concert moments where you want quality material without a massive time investment.

• Singing pop and musical theatre style with clarity and character
• Reading two-part harmony with independence
• Phrasing contemporary lyrical material with intention
• Coordinating breath and articulation with piano accompaniment
• Building musicality in songs outside the classical canon