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

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the song's anthemic power while making it genuinely singable for mixed ensembles. The piece balances accessibility with real harmonic interest, so your singers stay engaged musically rather than simply reproducing a familiar pop hit. It's the kind of arrangement that works equally well as a concert closer or a bridge between classical and contemporary repertoire.

This is music built on conviction and momentum. The arrangement wraps you in layered voices moving with purpose, building from introspection into something celebratory and unified. It captures the song's essential message of commonality and acceptance through vocal harmony, making the text land with clarity and warmth.

Choirs seeking contemporary material that commands student engagement and still delivers musical substance will find this arrangement invaluable. It works for concert choirs at the upper high school and college level, as well as community and show choirs looking to program something with genuine staying power.

• Lean into the rhythmic precision of the syncopated figures; this isn't a piece that benefits from rubato or laid-back phrasing. Crisp attacks and clean cutoffs will make the arrangement's modern sonority land clearly.
• Balance the soloistic moments in the soprano and alto lines so they sit above the harmonic foundation without overpowering the ensemble texture. These sections should feel conversational rather than dominant.
• Layer the dynamics carefully through the repetitions and building sections. Small incremental changes will create forward momentum without the piece feeling relentless by the final chorus.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in on harmonic accuracy, especially through the chromatic passages. Students benefit from hearing exactly where their line sits within the fuller texture.

Open a spring concert's second half with this piece, positioning it between a classical work and another contemporary title to show your ensemble's range. Alternatively, feature it as the culminating piece of a thematic program exploring identity and social connection through music.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
• Reading contemporary harmonic language and extended chords
• Balancing solo moments with ensemble cohesion
• Maintaining consistent tone and blend through dynamic repetitions
• Phrasing text naturally while honoring the arranged harmonic structure