Candle In The Wind (arr. Ed Lojeski): SSA Choral Octavo

Ed Lojeski's SSA arrangement opens this contemporary standard to younger and developing choirs while preserving the song's emotional core. The ten-page setting gives singers time to settle into the piece, building confidence and connection to material that resonates deeply with today's audiences.

The piece carries a quiet, reflective dignity. Lojeski's three-part texture creates space for singers to hear each other while honoring the song's contemplative character and its legacy as a cultural moment.

This arrangement works for high school and developing college choirs seeking accessible pop repertoire with emotional weight. It's ideal for singers who need material that challenges musicality without extreme technical demands.

• Shape the opening phrases with subtle dynamic shaping rather than dramatic leaps; the power comes from sustained, connected legato singing.
• Balance the three voice parts so no single line dominates, especially in moments where parts move independently.
• Let the recorded accompaniment guide your initial rehearsals, but encourage singers to commit the melody to memory before performance so they can sing with genuine presence.
• Consider the moment of greatest intensity in the arrangement and plan your breath strategy around it, avoiding breathiness in the quieter sections that surround it.

Pair this with other meaningful contemporary selections in a concert that honors songwriting craft across genres. It also serves well as a closing piece or program finale where audience connection matters more than spectacle.

• Sustaining legato phrasing across longer musical lines
• Blending three equal voice parts in a non-traditional harmonic context
• Singing with emotional authenticity and restraint rather than technical display
• Coordinating with recorded accompaniment and maintaining ensemble integrity while singing to backing tracks