Cuphead: SAB Choral Octavo

Alan Billingsley's arrangement captures the anarchic energy of Cuphead's soundtrack while keeping the writing singable for a three-part choir. The medley structure moves briskly through distinct styles, so rehearsals stay fresh and the concert moment lands with real personality. Directors looking to program contemporary pop arrangementsoutside the typical film or musical theater canon will find this genuinely fun to teach.

A playful romp through cartoon mischief and retro swing grooves. The music bounces from one style to the next with bright, cheeky energy, capturing the lighthearted absurdity of the game while letting each musical moment stand on its own before moving to the next adventure.

Choirs at the middle school through early high school level who want to connect with students' popular culture interests while maintaining musical rigor. This works equally well for community choirs seeking repertoire with broad appeal and contemporary flavor.

• Lean into the barbershop character where it appears. The style requires tight unison or near-unison singing and precise diction, so isolate those sections early and spend time on the vowel uniformity that makes barbershop lock.
• The swing sections demand rhythmic clarity and a relaxed, syncopated feel. Have students practice the swing rhythms independently before layering them with the other voice parts.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during rehearsal to establish tempo and style reference, then gradually build independence so the choir feels secure without it.
• The march section benefits from crisp articulation and marching-style energy. Keep the tempo steady and encourage singers to think about forward motion in their breath support.

Program this as a concert opener or closer to set a contemporary, high-energy tone and draw in audiences who know the game. It pairs well with other pop arrangements in a modern choral concert, or use it as a standalone feature if you're building a concert theme around video game music or animation.

• Singing in multiple musical styles within a single piece (barbershop, swing, march)
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated jazz idioms
• Clear diction and vowel matching in tight harmonic writing
• Style-appropriate interpretation and dynamic contrast
• Singing with recorded accompaniment and managing independent ensemble cohesion