Fascinating Rhythm: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Mac Huff's 2-part setting opens this Gershwin classic to choirs still developing harmonic independence and range, without softening the syncopation or swing that makes the piece iconic. The contest-festival designation signals a piece that sounds polished and ambitious at an accessible level.

Syncopated, danceable, and full of the urbane wit Gershwin brought to Broadway. The familiar melody sparkles against the harmonic motion, inviting singers into the joy of jazz phrasing and rhythmic precision.

Intermediate and developing choirs with access to rehearsal recordings and singers confident reading in two parts. This arrangement serves programs that need a sophisticated jazz standard without the vocal demands of three or four parts.

• Keep the rhythm section locked and bouncy rather than rigid. The written accompaniment thrives on a light swing feel, not a metronomic pulse.
• Shape the melody phrases to land on the swing beats. Resist the urge to sit back; forward energy is essential to this style.
• Balance the two parts so the lower line anchors the harmony without overwhelming the top voice. Both lines carry the song.
• Work the text rhythmically in sectionals before combining parts. The syncopation requires confident speaking and singing of the lyric shapes.

Pair this with other jazz standards or American songbook material for a concert celebrating 20th-century popular music. It also fits cleanly into a program exploring the intersection of Broadway and concert music, or as a contest selection that rewards rhythmic clarity and harmonic balance.

• Singing syncopated rhythms with accuracy and swing feel
• Reading and sustaining a harmonic line in 2-part texture
• Stylistic understanding of jazz articulation and phrasing
• Rhythmic independence between parts