Chattanooga Choo Choo: SSA Choral Octavo
Arr. Mac Huff
Item: 00-PO-0003552
$2.10
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
"Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?" Yes, it is, in a singable arrangement from Mac Huff. This musical favorite was the centerpiece of Broadway and film hits throughout the '40s. Still as much fun to sing as ever! Muster up some steam and get on track with this fun tune!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003552
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mac Huff
Mac Huff is a prolific arranger and composer whose work spans choral, jazz, and popular music idioms. His arrangements have become staples in high school and community choral programs, known for their singability, rhythmic drive, and ability to honor the spirit of the original while making material accessible to young singers.
Why we love this
Huff captures everything that makes this standard irresistible: the swagger, the momentum, the sheer joy of the melody. His voicing sits comfortably for SSA voices while preserving the swing feel and sophistication of the original, which means your singers get to sound polished without wrestling with awkward ranges or overly complicated harmony.
What to expect
Boarding a train at full throttle. The arrangement has genuine momentum and playfulness, with a melody so buoyant that singers find themselves naturally grinning through phrases. It swings without being precious, stays fun without sacrificing musicality.
Who it's for
This octavo works for middle school and high school choirs comfortable with jazz inflection and stylistic flexibility. It's equally at home in a concert setting, show choir program, or pops concert where you want a crowd-pleasing number that doesn't require advanced vocal technique but does demand musicality and rhythmic confidence.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock in the groove early in rehearsal by having singers feel the underlying swing eighth-note subdivision rather than straight sixteenths; this rhythmic pocket is what gives the arrangement its lift.
- Layer in the scat passages gradually. Begin with the text, then introduce the stylized scat syllables only when the melody and harmony are secure.
- Bring out the built-in call-and-response moments between sections; they're often where the arrangement creates its conversational energy and the singers feel the most engaged.
- Balance the accompaniment so the vocal lines sit forward; the instrumental parts available separately should support rather than dominate the voices.
How to use it
Program this in the second half of a concert to lift energy and delight the audience after a set of more serious material. Its Broadway roots and nostalgic appeal make it effective as a bridge between classical repertoire and contemporary pop, or as the closer to a pops-themed program where you want the audience leaving on a high note.
Skills your students will build
- Swing rhythm and jazz inflection (triplet subdivision, laid-back eighth notes)
- SSA voicing balance and part independence
- Stylized vocal delivery and scat singing techniques
- Musicality within a popular/theatrical idiom
- Ensemble cohesion in a rhythmically driven context