Embraceable You: SATB Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures everything that makes this Gershwin standard endure: the melody sits perfectly for SATB voices, and his decision to reference Rhapsody in Blue at the close feels both surprising and inevitable. This is accessible enough for developing choirs but harmonically and stylistically rich enough to satisfy singers who know the jazz tradition.

The piece exudes the sophisticated charm and romantic sincerity of classic Broadway, with Gershwin's signature harmonic sophistication woven throughout. The final gesture toward Rhapsody in Blue adds a moment of delightful musical texture that reminds listeners this song emerged from one of American music's most inventive minds.

SATB choirs at intermediate to advanced levels will find this arrangement both musically satisfying and technically manageable. It suits groups comfortable with jazz idioms and American song repertoire, whether in academic settings, community choirs, or church music programs.

• Honor the lyrical warmth of Ira's text by shaping phrases around the words rather than the bar lines; this song lives in its emotional directness, not in rigid metric precision.
• Let the final nod to Rhapsody in Blue shine without overplaying it; a slight rhythmic ease and tasteful dynamic swell will land the reference without overshadowing the main melody.
• Balance the parts so the soprano line remains the anchor throughout, but allow inner voices their moment when the harmony shifts, especially in the jazz reharmonizations.
• Treat the accompaniment (whether piano or ensemble-sung if divisi sections appear) as a conversational partner to the vocal line, not just harmonic padding.

This works beautifully as a concert centerpiece in a program mixing American standards and jazz-inflected repertoire. It also pairs naturally with other Gershwin works or sits equally well alongside contemporary pop arrangements, making it flexible for pops concerts, spring programs, or any setting where accessible sophistication serves your audience.

• Singing jazz phrasing and swing inflection within a formal choral setting
• Balancing lyrical expression with harmonic complexity in jazz-influenced writing
• Responding to subtle stylistic cues (the Rhapsody in Blue reference) without losing the song's primary character
• Executing smooth voice leading in passages with close harmonies and chromatic motion