A Safe Place To Land (feat. John Legend) (arr. Mac Huff): SSA Choral Octavo

Mac Huff's arrangement honors the tenderness of the original duet while giving SSA choirs the scaffolding to sound full and confident. The collaboration between Bareilles and John Legend provides built in emotional stakes that audiences recognize immediately, so your singers can focus on singing through the storytelling rather than establishing character.

Intimate and modern, with moments of vulnerability that feel earned rather than performed. The piece creates space for individual singers' voices to shine while building into richer harmonic textures that show off the power of ensemble singing.

SSA and SSAA choirs looking for contemporary repertoire that resonates with audiences of all ages. This arrangement suits intermediate to advanced high school choirs and college vocal ensembles seeking emotionally grounded pop arrangements.

• Study the original recording to hear how Bareilles and Legend shape phrases; their phrasing choices inform where your singers might breathe and where they might push through for legato.
• Balance the divisi passages carefully so that each line remains audible and the harmonic color shifts intentionally rather than muddying.
• Treat the text as conversational. This arrangement works best when singers understand the duet's dynamic; highlight moments where voices should feel like they're responding to each other rather than singing in unison.

Pair this with other Bareilles compositions or contemporary pop arrangements to anchor a modern concert section. It also works as an effective closer or emotional pivot point in a mixed-genre program, giving audiences a moment to connect with something they know and recognize.

• Phrase shaping in contemporary music idioms
• Managing divisi passages with textural clarity
• Interpreting and performing familiar songs authentically
• Listening and responding skills required in duet settings