Get Happy: SSAB Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while giving your singers genuine jazz vocabulary to dig into. Philip Kern's voicing sits perfectly for mixed ensembles without compromising the song's swagger, and the rhythmic drive keeps audiences locked in from the first measure to the last.

Exuberant and driving, this arrangement bounces with the confidence of a great jazz standard. The voicing creates a warm, sophisticated sound that swings without ever losing clarity, making it feel both polished and playful at once.

Choirs with solid rhythm skills and comfort navigating jazz phrasing will find this arrangement rewarding and energizing. High school, college, and community choirs looking for contemporary-sounding material with classic roots will connect immediately with this piece.

• Lock in the rhythm section (piano and bass parts when available) before rehearsing the full choir; the syncopation in this arrangement demands rhythmic precision from the start.
• Shape the melodic phrases with slight dynamic pushes rather than holding at one volume; the jazz style thrives on subtle movement within phrases.
• Highlight the call-and-response moments between voice parts by coaching your singers to listen actively for when other sections enter or drop out.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to help your singers hear how the arrangement sits against a full jazz ensemble sound and to internalize the groove.

This works beautifully as an opener or as a momentum-building moment in the middle of a concert; its infectious groove energizes audiences and singers alike. Pair it with other jazz standards or Golden Age theater songs to build a cohesive set that celebrates American songwriting, or use it as a stylistic bridge between classical and contemporary repertoire.

• Jazz phrasing and swing feel
• Syncopated rhythm reading in mixed meters
• Blend and balance in close jazz voicings
• Call-and-response ensemble coordination
• Intonation in chromatic harmonic movement