Come Rain Or Come Shine (arr. Kirby Shaw): SATB Choral Octavo

Shaw's arrangement captures the soul of this standard without overwhelming SATB singers. The jazz sensibility comes through in the harmonic language and rhythmic drive, but the part writing stays accessible and singable for singers at all levels. Programming this opens the door to jazz repertoire conversations while giving students an accessible entry point into swing style and jazz harmony.

Warm, sophisticated, and tinged with longing. The arrangement breathes with that classic Broadway-into-jazz ease, where sentiment and swing coexist naturally. There's room for vulnerability in the voicing and a buoyant optimism underneath.

SATB choirs looking to add accessible jazz repertoire without sacrificing musical substance. Directors who want students to taste swing style, jazz harmony, and emotional maturity in a single seven-page package.

• Nail the rhythmic precision in the homophonic passages. Shaw writes rhythmically tight sections that demand ensemble lock; treat these like punctuation marks in the phrase.
• Let the baritones and basses carry the groove. The lower voices provide the swing feel, so don't let tenors and altos rush ahead of the bottom.
• Shape the lyrical sections with genuine warmth. The emotional core of this song lives in the sustained lines; find space to breathe and let the sentiment land.
• Use the dynamic landscape Shaw provides. He's marked contrasts between sections intentionally, so honor those shifts rather than singing through them at a single volume.

Pair this with a concert exploring standards and American songbook material, or use it as an advanced warm-up in a jazz unit. The moderate length and emotional accessibility make it a strong closer for a spring concert where you want to leave audiences with something familiar and beautifully rendered.

• Swing rhythm and jazz articulation
• Jazz harmony and chord extensions in SATB voice leading
• Balancing lyrical expression with rhythmic precision
• Listening across sections to maintain ensemble groove
• Performing standards with stylistic authenticity