Come Rain or Come Shine: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the sultry, sophisticated feel of this classic while giving choirs real substance to sing. The full choral writing and piano accompaniment work together to build genuine drama, and the climactic finish gives your singers the payoff they earn through careful phrasing and interpretation. This is a ballad that respects both the song's legacy and the singers performing it.

Warm, intimate, and gradually building in emotional intensity, this ballad draws you into a moment of vulnerability before swelling into a finish with full dramatic power. The Mercer lyric carries real romantic weight, and Althouse's arrangement honors that through rich harmonies and thoughtful voicing that lets the text breathe. You feel the song unfold rather than being pushed through it.

Concert choirs seeking sophisticated secular repertoire that bridges classical rigor and jazz sensibility will find this arrangement deeply rewarding. Show choirs and jazz ensembles can program it as a showcase for ensemble blend and stylistic maturity. It's equally suited to mixed and treble voicings and works beautifully in mixed-voice concert settings.

• Treat the piano accompaniment as a full voice in the ensemble. The dazzling writing Althouse created depends on the pianist shaping phrases and responding to the choir's tempo and dynamics.
• Shape the melody with restraint early on. "Sultry" doesn't mean overstating; let the warmth build naturally through the harmonies beneath the top line.
• Bring the recorded accompaniment into rehearsals early so singers hear the full texture and can find their place in the mix. The SoundTrax CD lets you establish a secure harmonic foundation before focusing on interpretation.
• Plan the final climactic moment deliberately. Work backward from the finish, deciding exactly where and how intensity builds so the pull-out-the-stops ending feels earned rather than imposed.

Program this as a featured ballad in a concert that includes uptempo jazz or pop selections; the contrast works beautifully. It's an excellent choice for a full concert built around Great American Songbook standards, where it can sit alongside other Arlen or Mercer works. Consider it for a spring concert paired with lighter repertoire, as the intimacy and warmth of the piece creates a memorable moment for both singers and audience.

• Sustained legit phrasing in a jazz context
• Blend and balance in four-part harmony
• Stylistic awareness of the Great American Songbook
• Dynamic control and text-driven interpretation
• Responding to and balancing with piano accompaniment