Broadway Today: Song Kit #30: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Six beloved Broadway standards arrive in fresh, performance-ready arrangements that capture the spirit of the originals without overwhelming developing singers. The included SoundTrax CD eliminates the need to hunt down separate accompaniment tracks, letting you rehearse immediately. This collection hits that sweet spot where singers feel they're performing genuinely theatrical music, not simplified versions.

These arrangements pulse with Broadway's infectious energy while remaining rooted in solid choral craft. Singers navigate familiar melodies through fresh harmonic color, moving between moments of intimate vulnerability and full, triumphant ensemble sound.

Mixed choirs and ensemble singers at the middle school through early high school level will find accessible, rewarding material here. Directors programming a lighter concert or seeking a set of well-known songs that audiences genuinely enjoy will appreciate the immediate appeal of these titles.

• Use the recorded accompaniment strategically during sectional rehearsals; singers can lock in their parts independently before full ensemble work.
• Emphasize the character of each song. 'Tomorrow' calls for hopeful sincerity, while 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' should lean into its rhythmic groove.
• Pay attention to the arranger's dynamic markings. Schram's arrangements use dynamics to shape theatrical moments, so honor the score's contrast between intimate verses and full chorus sections.
• Schedule ensemble time specifically for tuning in the fuller harmonic passages; Broadway voicings can surprise singers used to more classical choral writing.

Build a complete Broadway-themed concert around this collection, or weave individual titles into a program alongside classical or contemporary repertoire for tonal variety. The recognizable songs pair especially well with concerts aimed at family audiences or fundraising events where accessibility matters.

• Singing with rhythmic precision in syncopated passages typical of musical theater
• Balancing melody and harmony in Broadway-style voicings
• Interpreting character and emotion within familiar song contexts
• Responding to recorded accompaniments with independence and ensemble awareness