Come Fly With Me: SSA Choral Octavo

Come Fly With Me contains the kind of buoyant, mid-century optimism that energizes a concert. The melody is memorable without being simplistic, and Van Heusen's harmonies give SSA choirs genuine material to work with rather than just a vocal line with padding underneath. Audiences recognize it immediately, which means your singers get the satisfaction of performing a standard that lands every time.

Bright, aspirational, with a touch of sophistication. The melody floats easily over clean harmonies that suggest moonlit travel and unbounded possibility. It's the sound of a golden-age musical number translated for the concert stage.

Intermediate and advanced SSA/SSAA choirs looking for a standard that feels both accessible and musically rewarding. This works particularly well for groups comfortable with swing style and interested in mid-century popular repertoire.

• Establish the swing feel early in rehearsals by having the choir listen to Sinatra's recording and identify where the eighth notes sit relative to the beat. This style doesn't live in notation alone.
• Balance soprano and alto lines carefully in the upper sections; Van Heusen often writes the melody between them, and clarity matters more than blend here.
• Shape the phrase endings with subtle dynamic releases rather than cutting off abruptly. The song's breezy character depends on letting each phrase breathe naturally.
• Pay attention to the lyrics' sense of forward motion and adventure. Singers who understand they're describing the joy of escape sing with better energy and posture.

Pair this with other Van Heusen or Rodgers and Hammerstein standards to anchor a popular song set, or use it as an opener for a lighter second half of a mixed concert. The five-page length and moderate technical demands make it ideal for spring shows or pops programs.

• Swing rhythm and style interpretation
• Singing sustained melodic lines over moving harmonic accompaniment
• Blend and balance in divisi sections
• Phrasing and breath control in mid-tempo popular song
• Standard notation reading in a jazz idiom