Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Eric Van Cleave's arrangement captures the irresistible energy of the original without requiring a full band or extensive rehearsal time to sound authentic. The SAB voicing sits comfortably across mixed ensembles while keeping the funk and swagger intact, and the optional instrumental parts let you build the arrangement up as your confidence grows.

A burst of '70s soul groove dressed in platform shoes and good humor. The piece swings with infectious swagger, inviting singers to smile, move, and inhabit the party atmosphere of the original Teddy Pendergrass hit. It's celebratory without being cartoonish.

Directors building concert programs that celebrate popular music alongside traditional repertoire, or who want to energize mixed choirs with a piece that requires confidence, rhythmic precision, and personality. Works well for groups comfortable with contemporary idiom and ready to commit to the funk aesthetic.

• Lock the rhythm section (bass and drums from the SoundTrax or SoundPax parts) early in rehearsal to establish the groove before layering vocal lines.
• Let the front-loaded rhythmic energy carry the piece; encourage singers to feel the pocket rather than chase perfect pitch attacks.
• Lean into the call-and-response moments and use dynamics to shift focus between voice parts, keeping the energy from feeling static across 12 pages.
• If performing live with musicians, rehearse the hand-off between intro and the first vocal entrance multiple times to nail the pocket transition.

Schedule this as a concert closer or Act Two opener to shift the energy after more serious works. Pairs naturally with other secular pop chorals or a medley of funk and soul standards. Works equally well in cabaret settings or as a show choir feature.

• Singing over a syncopated groove and maintaining ensemble time without a conductor's constant beat
• Balancing tight rhythmic unison passages with independent melodic lines in call-and-response sections
• Interpreting style markings and text underlay for contemporary popular music idiom
• Coordinating with instrumental accompaniment or recorded tracks to lock pocket and groove