Back Pocket (arr. Roger Emerson): SATB Choral Octavo

Roger Emerson's arrangement captures Vulfpeck's signature pocket without sacrificing choral musicality. The voices lock into a groove that feels contemporary and accessible while building genuine ensemble coordination skills. Your singers will want to perform this because they recognize the source material and love how the voicing brings the funk to life.

Tight, intentional, and grounded. The arrangement honors Vulfpeck's restraint while giving each voice line purpose and clarity. Singing this feels less like traditional choral music and more like becoming part of a working groove section.

Choirs seeking contemporary repertoire that teaches groove and ensemble coordination. This works well for groups comfortable with pop and funk idioms who want to explore music rooted in contemporary songwriting. The 18 pages suggest a choir with some rehearsal time to invest in getting the pocket right.

• Nail the rhythmic unison in the opening sections before layering harmonies. Lock the subdivision internally first, then let the groove breathe.
• Listen to the original recording together at rehearsal. Your singers need to know how the groove sits in the mix so they can emulate that pocket rather than oversing.
• Keep the dynamic palette restrained through most of the piece. The tension builds through rhythmic precision and layering, not volume.
• Emphasize the syncopation without losing the pulse. The syncopated rhythms sit inside a strong beat, not against it.

Pair this with other contemporary pop or funk arrangements to build a modern set. It works particularly well as a concert opener because it engages the audience immediately and shows your choir's range. The groove-based approach also makes it valuable for chamber choir concerts or events mixing traditional and contemporary repertoire.

• Pocket and groove maintenance across phrase lengths
• Layering and rhythmic independence within ensemble cohesion
• Syncopation within a steady pulse
• Vocal production in a contemporary idiom
• Listening to and locking with ensemble lines in real time