Come What May (from Moulin Rouge) (arr. Theodore Hicks): SSAATTBB Choral Octavo

Theo Hicks has crafted an arrangement that honors the film's emotional sweep while giving a full eight-part choir room to breathe and shine. The SSAATTBB voicing creates genuine harmonic depth, moving well beyond typical octave doubling to craft textures that feel both cinematic and choral. Directors will find this captures the song's signature intimacy without sacrificing the ensemble power that makes group singing so satisfying.

Opening with tenderness and swelling into a declaration of devotion, this arrangement captures the song's cinematic vulnerability. The eight-part texture creates a warm, enveloping harmonic environment that feels both intimate and grand, inviting singers and listeners into a moment of emotional sincerity.

This arrangement works beautifully for choirs with solid sight-reading skills and at least a season of ensemble experience under their belts. It suits groups looking to include a contemporary film song in a concert without resorting to unison or simple harmonization, and it offers genuine musical substance for singers who want to feel the production value of their work.

• Treat the dynamic arch like a film score: build gradually through the first verse and chorus, then pull back to allow soloists or small groups to carry the second verse before expanding again.
• Tune the harmonic movement carefully, especially if Hicks employs close interval spacing in the upper voices. Rehearse sections in smaller voice parts to lock accuracy before combining full voicing.
• Let the text breathe. The phrase "Come what may" carries the emotional weight of the song; singers should shape it with deliberate phrasing rather than pushing through mechanically.
• Balance the lower voices so they anchor the chord without overwhelming the soprano line, which carries the memorable melody.

Pair this with other contemporary or film-inspired choral works to create a thematic set that bridges classical and popular idioms. It also serves as an excellent anchor for a concert that celebrates musical theater or screen adaptations, offering something recent and recognizable without sacrificing artistic credibility. Consider using it as a closer for a spring concert where the emotional resonance of the piece can land with full impact.

• Balancing eight-part harmony while maintaining a clear melodic line
• Shaping a sustained emotional arc across a full piece
• Reading contemporary sheet music written for film contexts
• Blending upper and lower voice sections to create unified harmonic color
• Interpreting rubato and dynamic nuance in a choral setting