A Wink And A Smile (arr. Kim Brittain): SATB Choral Octavo

Brittain's arrangement captures the infectious charm of the original without requiring your singers to navigate unnecessarily complex harmonies. The SATB voicing sits naturally in the voice, and the pop sensibility makes it an engaging choice for concert audiences who might not typically connect with traditional choral repertoire.

Breezy optimism with enough harmonic sophistication to keep musicians engaged. The melody has that Broadway shine to it, instantly recognizable and warm, while Brittain's voicing adds contemporary color without overwhelming the core tune.

Choirs seeking accessible jazz and pop repertoire that doesn't sacrifice musical substance. High school and college ensembles will find it particularly rewarding for concerts where you want to branch beyond classical traditions.

• Treat the rhythm section references in the score as your roadmap for phrasing. Even in a choral setting, this tune lives by its groove, so lock in the swing feel from the opening rehearsals rather than treating it as an afterthought.
• Balance your soloists carefully if the arrangement calls for featured voices. The charm of this tune depends on clarity, so make sure high notes aren't drowning out the harmonic support underneath.
• Pay attention to the lyrical content. Shaiman wrote this to land emotional punches within moments of musical lightness, so your singers need to understand when they're supposed to be playing and when they're supposed to mean it.

Program this as a palate cleanser between heavier classical pieces, or feature it as part of a pops concert designed to widen your audience base. The six-page length makes it manageable even for ensembles with limited rehearsal time.

• Navigating jazz and pop phrasing in a choral context
• Balancing ensemble blend across contemporary harmonic movement
• Singing with stylistic awareness of non-classical vocal idioms
• Interpreting swing feel and rhythmic flexibility in group settings