Big Time (from Better Nate Than Ever) (arr. Jacob Narverud): SAB Choral Octavo

Youthful ambition and infectious optimism fuel every measure. The arrangement pulses with forward momentum and bright energy, capturing that moment when someone's dreams feel not just possible but inevitable. It's earnest without being schmaltzy.

Directors building choirs with mixed experience levels who want contemporary material that's both fun and musical. Singers who've tackled basic three-part voicing and are ready for something with real rhythmic and theatrical life.

• Keep the rhythmic drive steady throughout. This song lives in its groove, so lock the pulse early and resist the temptation to rush.
• Shape the dynamic arc deliberately. The arrangement builds progressively, so mark your crescendos in rehearsal and make sure the final chorus feels genuinely bigger than earlier statements.
• Lean into the theatrical intent. These singers are characters with ambitions, so encourage confident, open delivery of the text rather than a timid choir sound.
• Balance the parts carefully in sections where SAB texture thickens. The Sopranos and Altos often carry different rhythmic material, so isolate those lines and drill them separately if the blend feels murky.

Slot this into a concert celebrating musical theater, film music, or contemporary pop arrangements. It works equally well as a high-energy opener or a show-closing number that sends the audience out smiling. The 15-page length means it's substantial enough to anchor a set without overshadowing lighter fare.

• Reading SAB voicing with independent rhythmic lines across all three parts
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated passages
• Building dynamic control across a multi-section arrangement
• Interpreting contemporary musical theater style with theatrical expression