A Day in the Life of a Fool (Manha De Carnaval) (arr. Kirby Shaw): Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00437275
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Description
Here is an arrangement of one of the most popular bossa nova songs of all time. Staying true to the bossa style, your students will enjoy learning this important groove with its close harmonies and easy feel. A jazz classic with new life.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00437275
More about this title
About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw's career spans five decades of advancing choral music through arranging, composing, conducting, and teaching. Armed with degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, Shaw has worked with vocal ensembles across North America, Europe, and beyond. His teaching style blends rigorous musicianship with infectious enthusiasm, qualities he developed while founding and directing acclaimed vocal jazz programs at College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
As a composer and arranger, Shaw has created over 2,500 works now performed globally and has sold nearly 20 million copies. He has worked directly with jazz legends including Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks. His output has earned multiple ASCAP awards, and his arrangements are standard repertoire in high school and college choral programs. Shaw currently directs the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University and continues to create new works, including recent commissions for major choral organizations.
Why we love this
Shaw's arrangement preserves the essential charm of this bossa nova standard while tailoring it for ensemble singers who may be new to the style. The close harmonies and accessible vocal writing make the groove feel natural rather than imposed, and students absorb authentic Latin jazz vocabulary simply by singing it. You'll find your ensemble asking to perform this again and again.
What to expect
A gentle, sophisticated sway. The bossa nova pulse carries you forward with the ease of a seaside walk, while the close harmonies create warmth and intimacy. Shaw's arrangement honors the original's understated elegance while giving singers room to feel the groove themselves.
Who it's for
High school and college choral directors seeking accessible entry into Latin jazz repertoire. Students benefit from learning an authentic groove and close harmony writing without navigating overly complex ranges or rhythmic demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythm section into a steady pulse early in rehearsals; the bossa nova groove depends on a relaxed but precise underlying beat that feels effortless.
- Have your singers listen to recordings of the original standard before learning the arrangement so they internalize the melodic contour and the feel of the style.
- Balance the harmony voices so they support the melody without overwhelming it; this arrangement thrives when the close harmonies sit together as one cohesive sound.
- Encourage a light, conversational tone in the vocal production rather than operatic weight; bossa nova lives in understatement.
How to use it
This works beautifully on a concert that explores jazz standards or Latin music; it pairs naturally with other bossa nova or samba arrangements. Consider programming it as a palate cleanser between heavier classical pieces or as an accessible showcase of jazz arranging for audiences less familiar with the genre.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in close harmony while maintaining independence of voice lines
- Understanding and executing the bossa nova rhythmic feel
- Sustaining a groove over repeated harmonic progressions
- Phrasing within a jazz context with conversational, relaxed tone production
- Hearing and balancing voicings in a non-traditional ensemble texture