Fascinating Rhythm (from Lady Be Good) (arr. Ed Lojeski): SATB Choral Octavo

Lojeski captures the infectious syncopation and rhythmic vitality of Gershwin's original while writing for SATB voices in a way that feels natural, not squeezed. The arrangement walks a careful line between maintaining the jazz idiom and ensuring singers at various levels can execute the syncopated rhythms with confidence and joy.

Propulsive, witty, and endlessly energetic. The arrangement captures the relentless forward drive of the original composition, with rhythmic figures that seem to push and pull at the grid. It's bright and sophisticated without ever becoming precious or overly arranged.

This arrangement works for intermediate to advanced choirs comfortable with syncopation and rhythmic independence between parts. It's equally rewarding for a concert choir seeking a showstopper, a jazz choir wanting a standard that showcases Gershwin's genius, or a pop/show choir looking to program a classic with harmonic substance.

• Lock the rhythmic precision early in rehearsals by isolating the syncopated figures that define the tune. The 'fascinating rhythm' isn't just a title; it's the foundation of every section's part, so make sure altos and tenors are equally secure with the off-beat gestures as the soloists.
• Shape the phrases with forward momentum. This arrangement thrives when the choir leans slightly into the pulse without rushing; a light swing feel naturally emerges when singers think 'ahead' of the beat rather than sitting squarely on it.
• Encourage the soloists (and section leaders singing exposed lines) to own the playfulness in the text. 'Fascinating Rhythm' works best when performed with a knowing lightness, as if the singers are in on the joke of the relentless syncopation.

Open a second half with this to shift the energy and mood after a set of more subdued pieces. Its immediate appeal and recognizable melody make it an ideal audience connector, while its harmonic and rhythmic sophistication assures fellow musicians that the choir is serious about the music. It also pairs naturally with other jazz standards or classic American repertoire from the Great American Songbook.

• Singing syncopated rhythms with precision and independence from the beat
• Reading and executing jazz swing articulations and phrasing within a choral context
• Balancing rhythmic accuracy with the lighter, forward-moving style of jazz interpretation
• Maintaining ensemble cohesion when parts carry different rhythmic figures simultaneously
• Interpreting text with the playfulness and sophistication the jazz idiom requires