Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (arr. Martin Cornelissen): SATB Choral Octavo

Martin Cornelissen's arrangement captures the luminous quality of the original while giving your SATB singers a genuinely engaging part. The voicing sits beautifully across ranges, and the harmonic language feels current rather than dated, making this work particularly effective for choirs seeking pop repertoire that doesn't sacrifice musical substance.

Buoyant and affirmative. The arrangement glides forward with an almost ethereal lightness, buoyed by that hook everyone knows but supported by harmonies that feel both accessible and thoughtfully crafted. Your singers will feel the lift inherent in the original without losing the musical integrity of a real choral piece.

Directors building pop choral programs, especially those working with singers who respond to contemporary material and want chart relevance without compromising musicality. This works equally well in secular concert contexts or contemporary worship settings.

• Let the sopranos carry the vocal hook through the main sections; their line is what audiences will recognize and remember.
• Shape the harmonic movement with careful attention to voice independence in the inner parts, especially where Cornelissen writes movement between alto and tenor.
• Consider a soloist for the verses to maintain the intimate quality of Sting's original before bringing in full SATB texture at the chorus.
• Balance warmth in the lower voices against the brightness of the top line; this ratio creates the magic the title promises.

Pair this with other 1980s pop classics in a concert celebrating how great songwriting transcends genre, or feature it as a set closer where the familiarity of the tune guarantees audience engagement. It also works beautifully in a program that mixes classical repertoire with contemporary voices, providing a musical bridge for audiences less familiar with traditional choral literature.

• Balancing pop idiom with choral ensemble discipline
• Executing rhythmic precision in syncopated vocal lines
• Maintaining harmonic independence across SATB voices
• Shaping contemporary melodic material with musical intent rather than casual delivery