Falling In Love With Love (with This Can't Be Love) (arr. Kirby Shaw): SSA Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's pairing of these two standards creates an elegant statement piece that celebrates the songwriting intelligence of Rodgers and Hart without overwrought arranging. The SSA/SSAA voicing sits naturally for women's voices, allowing singers to focus on the lyricism and harmonic color rather than fighting uncomfortable ranges. This is the kind of arrangement that sounds sophisticated in performance while remaining genuinely enjoyable to rehearse.

Sophisticated without pretension. The melodies are singable and instantly recognizable, while the harmonies underneath have real color and movement. You'll find yourself enjoying both the straightforward joy of performing a beloved standard and the subtle pleasures of Shaw's harmonic choices.

SSA and SSAA choirs looking for accessible yet musically substantial material drawn from the American songbook. Directors seeking to introduce singers to jazz standards and the harmonic language of classic Broadway. Ensembles comfortable with syncopated rhythms and wanting a crowd-pleasing closer or special feature.

• Treat the lyrics conversationally. Hart's words have specificity and humor; resist the urge to over-legit the delivery.
• Balance the sections so the top line sings through without drowning out the harmonic foundation underneath. The arranging is clean, which means exposed inner voices matter.
• Find the swing in the rhythmic figures without pushing the tempo. These standards live in the space between ballad and swing, and that tension is part of their charm.

Works beautifully as a spring concert feature or a charming closer that leaves audiences smiling. The medley format makes it suitable as a standalone piece or as part of a larger jazz standards set alongside other swing era arrangements. Consider programming it in a concert that spotlights American songwriting or as a palate cleanser between heavier choral works.

• Navigating syncopated rhythms and jazz-influenced phrasing
• Blending voices across three to four parts with attention to harmonic balance
• Articulating lyrics with conversational clarity rather than operatic heaviness
• Understanding the harmonic language of mid-century American popular song