Cups (When I'm Gone) (from Pitch Perfect) (arr. Kirby Shaw): SATB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the infectious energy and rhythmic precision that made this song a cultural moment, translating the cup percussion and layered vocals into a SATB setting that feels fresh rather than forced. The chart respects the original's appeal while giving choirs genuine musical substance to work with, making it equally satisfying for your singers and your audience.

Playful, rhythmically kinetic, and undeniably fun. The arrangement captures the cup-percussion groove at its heart while maintaining the song's infectious positivity and clever vocal interplay across parts.

Choirs seeking contemporary material that resonates with singers and audiences alike will find immediate appeal in this chart. The twelve pages offer enough substance for concert programming without overwhelming younger or less experienced ensembles.

• Lock the rhythmic precision of the cup sounds into your ensemble before layering text; this percussion element drives the entire arrangement, and clean articulation pays dividends when all four parts lock together.
• Balance the homophonic and call-and-response sections carefully; the soloistic moments need clarity without drowning out the accompanying harmonies underneath.
• Lean into the contemporary pop sensibility with your dynamic shape; this arrangement thrives on energy and momentum rather than traditional choral phrasing.

This works beautifully as a closer for a concert section focused on contemporary pop or film music, where its high-energy finish leaves the audience engaged. You might also program it alongside other accessible, student-friendly pop arrangements to create a thematically cohesive set.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
• Layering multiple rhythmic and melodic lines with clarity
• Percussion sound production and articulation with vocals
• Dynamic contrast in call-and-response textures