Come Follow The Band: Choral Instrumental Pak

This arrangement captures all the theatrical vitality of the original without losing sight of what makes it singable for young and adult choirs alike. Mark Brymer's orchestration sparkles with the showmanship the number demands, and the rhythmic momentum makes it nearly impossible for an audience not to respond with energy.

Barnum's opening exudes circus energy and unbridled optimism. The music sparkles with ragtime and vaudeville inflections, propelling singers forward with infectious rhythmic vitality and melodies that lodge instantly in memory.

This works beautifully for any choir seeking a crowd-pleasing opener or closer that lives up to its "great feature" reputation. High school, college, and community choirs will all find material here that feels both modern and timeless.

• Establish the groove early in rehearsals. The piece lives in its forward motion, so lock the rhythmic feel before polishing the melodic details.
• Balance the upper line carefully so the primary melody cuts through without the accompaniment becoming accompaniment. Everyone has a moment to shine.
• Lean into the comedic spirit of the material. This is theatrical music that thrives when singers commit to the character and personality of the text.
• Manage the piece's dynamic range intentionally. The splashy moments need contrast from quieter sections to land their full impact.

Program this as an Act 2 starter if you're building a concert around theatrical repertoire, or use it as a finale that leaves audiences grinning. Its two-minute-forty-second duration makes it ideal for mixed concert formats where you need something that commands attention without consuming program real estate.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated ensemble singing
• Theatrical diction and character expression
• Balancing homophonic and contrapuntal texture simultaneously
• Reading and performing ragtime and vaudeville idioms
• Sustaining energy and forward motion across a complete arrangement