A Woman In Love (Arr. Berty Rice): Choral Octavo

This arrangement brings Barbra Streisand's iconic performance into choral space without losing the song's dramatic arc or emotional core. The voicing captures the Bee Gees' signature harmonic richness while remaining singable across mixed ability levels, and the 14 pages give arrangers and singers room to explore dynamic storytelling that transcends the pop genre.

Lush and romantic, with the kind of sweeping vocal lines that let singers feel the vulnerability in the text. The harmonic language is warm and accessible, yet sophisticated enough to hold the attention of musicians who love well-crafted chord progressions.

Mixed choirs looking to expand their secular repertoire with songs that resonate emotionally with performers and audiences alike. This works well for groups comfortable with contemporary idiom and interested in bridging pop songwriting craft with choral technique.

• Balance the melody line against supporting harmonies; this arrangement rewards clarity in each voice part rather than blended uniformity.
• Shape the phrasing across the longer lines to avoid rhythmic flatness; treat sustained chords as harmonic backdrops for the emotional narrative.
• Use the recorded accompaniment as a tempo and stylistic reference, then adjust for your choir's blend and the acoustics of your venue.
• Pay attention to dynamics marked in the score to create contrast between the verse and chorus material.

Slot this into a concert dedicated to beloved standards from the 1980s onward, or pair it with other pop arrangements to create a program that shows the range of your choir's taste. It also works as a finale or showcase piece that demonstrates your ensemble's ability to bring contemporary material to life.

• Phrasing and legato singing across longer melodic lines
• Reading and balancing independent harmonic parts in a pop idiom
• Interpreting dynamic markings to shape emotional storytelling
• Sustaining intonation across complex jazz-influenced chord changes