Come Fly with Me (arr. Kevin Keller): SSAA Choral Octavo

Kevin Keller's arrangement captures the swagger and lightness of this mid-century classic while making it work for women's voices without losing an ounce of charm. The barbershop influences he layers in give the piece unexpected harmonic interest; this doesn't feel like a standard female voicing of a standards arrangement. Your singers get to perform a recognizable favorite that audiences adore, paired with writing that respects both the original spirit and the particular strengths of SSAA texture.

This is pure joy with a knowing wink. The tune lifts and propels forward, full of travel and possibility, while Keller's harmonies add sophisticated color beneath the brightness. There's elegance here alongside the fun, a reminder that midcentury standards were written by craft masters who could balance accessibility with genuine musical depth.

Women's choirs seeking repertoire with infectious charm and genuine substance. Groups comfortable with a cappella singing and ready to tackle close harmonies will find this both accessible and rewarding. Strong auditioned ensembles and more advanced high school programs will get the most from the harmonic demands.

• Treat the lyric with the rhythmic snap it deserves. The text has built-in swing; don't sand down the consonants or let vowels blur together. Cahn wrote these words to bounce.
• Balance solo opportunities against ensemble unison moments. If the arrangement features a section leading the melody, that singer must have vocal security and stylistic confidence to pull the others along.
• Let the barbershop voicing breathe. These chromatic passing tones and close harmonies work best when you avoid rigid, classical vibrato. A lighter, more direct tone serves the idiom.
• Nail the vowel consistency across all four parts on sustained harmonies. A cappella singing exposes unmatched vowel shapes immediately, and this tune sits long enough to make tuning and blend real priorities.

Place this in a concert celebrating classic American song, where it can anchor a set of standards without needing orchestral accompaniment. It works particularly well as a closer or near-closer, sending audiences out with energy and warmth. The piece also fits nicely in a program exploring midcentury musical theater and film, offering a different angle than typical operetta fare.

• Reading and singing close four-part barbershop harmony
• Maintaining pitch stability in a cappella ensemble singing
• Executing rhythmic precision with jazz swing inflection
• Balancing solo melodic lines with harmonic ensemble support
• Shaping phrase contours that match lyrical intent