Black Or White (arr. Kirby Shaw): SAB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the anthem quality of this Jackson classic while respecting the vocal ranges and accessibility needs of developing SAB ensembles. The piece gives your singers a contemporary standard that audiences recognize immediately, yet the three-part writing creates genuine harmonic interest rather than oversimplifying the original.

Energetic and purposeful, with a message that resonates. The arrangement maintains the original's accessibility while layering harmonic depth that keeps singers engaged; it feels modern without sacrificing musicality.

SAB choirs looking for contemporary material with cultural relevance and immediate audience appeal. This works for mixed ensembles at the high school or community level, or as a concert feature for groups wanting to expand beyond traditional choral standards.

• Balance the message at the forefront. The lyrical content carries as much weight as the melody, so encourage singers to articulate text clearly and own the song's conviction.
• Lock the rhythmic feel early in rehearsals. Even though it's written music, the groove and pocket matter; listen together to how the original sits rhythmically, then find that same ease in your ensemble.
• Shape phrases across harmonic changes rather than stopping at bar lines. Let the arrangement's harmonic movement carry the line forward.

Pair this with other contemporary pop arrangements to build a thematic set exploring social consciousness in modern songwriting, or use it as a concert closer when you want to send audiences out with a memorable, singalong moment. The 11-page length makes it manageable for concert programs without dominating rehearsal time.

• Singing pop-influenced rhythms with precision
• Balancing accessibility with harmonic independence in three-part writing
• Connecting lyrical content to musical phrasing
• Managing sustained energy across contemporary material