Ghostbusters (arr. Roger Emerson): SATB Choral Octavo

Emerson nails the balance between fun and musicality here. The arrangement captures what makes Ghostbusters instantly recognizable while giving all four voice parts something genuinely interesting to sing; nobody gets stuck on a boring background riff for twelve pages. It's the kind of piece that lands with an audience and actually makes rehearsals entertaining.

Equal parts nostalgia and energy. This arrangement captures the propulsive funk-pop feel of the original, complete with the iconic groove and earworm melody that everyone remembers. There's room for character and attitude in the singing without sacrificing ensemble cohesion.

Choirs looking to program contemporary music that connects with students and audiences alike. Works well for mixed ensembles at the high school level and above, or any group comfortable with pop voicings and rhythmic precision.

• Keep the rhythm section locked and buoyant. The groove drives this piece, so nail the precision of your bass and alto rhythms from the start.
• Don't let the pop idiom flatten your vowel sounds. Clear diction and supported tone still matter; they just serve a different aesthetic.
• Balance the melody line so it cuts through the harmonic texture without the sopranos straining. They're carrying the hook, but it shouldn't feel exhausting.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish tempo and pocket early in rehearsal, then work toward independence so singers aren't locked into the track.

Drop it into a Halloween concert as the crowd pleaser, or use it as a change-of-pace moment in a mixed program that leans classical elsewhere. The twelve pages make it substantial enough to stand on its own within a concert set, but it also works beautifully as a finale or encore that sends audiences out smiling.

• Rhythmic precision and syncopation in a pop idiom
• Four-part blend in non-traditional harmony
• Diction clarity and vowel consistency in rhythmic contexts
• Sensitivity to bass line and harmonic support
• Confidence performing contemporary arranged music