Heart of Stone: SSAA Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the emotional core of Jane Seymour's character without requiring your singers to navigate theatrical convention or dramatic pretense. Andy Beck's voicing sits comfortably for SSAA ensembles while preserving the R&B groove and modern production sensibility that made the original Broadway recording so compelling. Programming a contemporary pop song written by a Tony-winning composer signals to your singers (and your audience) that choral music includes the songs they actually know and love.

A moment of vulnerable strength. The R&B groove keeps the song moving forward with modern energy, but the lyrical content and harmonic choices create space for genuine emotion. Despite the pop context, there's an intimacy here that feels confessional rather than theatrical. By the final section, layered voices transform individual devotion into something monumental.

Treble choirs and SSAA ensembles of all levels, particularly those looking to program contemporary Broadway alongside traditional choral repertoire. Singers drawn to pop and R&B styles will find this arrangement energizing, while directors seeking to expand their concert programming with music their students recognize will find it immediately engaging.

• Treat the R&B groove as the foundation of your interpretation. The rhythm section feel (particularly the bass line and hi-hat pattern suggested in the score) should be consistent and locked in before adding vocal layers. If using the recorded accompaniment, allow singers to listen to it repeatedly during rehearsal so the groove becomes intuitive rather than notated.
• Balance the layered choral textures in the final section with care. These aren't unison moments; they're designed to build density and power. Mark dynamics clearly in your score and differentiate between the different voice groupings so each layer reads distinctly.
• Shape the emotional arc toward 'my love is set in stone.' This phrase deserves to land with conviction. Work backward from that moment to ensure phrasing, breath placement, and dynamic trajectory all support the resolution.
• Pay attention to the contemporary vowel shapes the R&B style demands. Maintain clarity in diction while allowing the vocal production to be more grounded and chest-voice oriented than classical choral singing. This style shift is refreshing for singers and creates authenticity to the source material.

Pair this with other contemporary pop or musical theater selections to create a concert section that honors current musical tastes without abandoning artistic rigor. It works particularly well as a closing piece or as an emotional anchor in a program of contrasting styles, offering the audience a moment of reflection after higher-energy selections. Consider programming it alongside other SIX arrangements to create a mini-narrative within your concert.

• Singing in R&B/contemporary pop style (grounded vowels, rhythmic precision, chest voice production)
• Reading layered choral textures with rhythmic independence
• Interpreting modern Broadway composition and lyrical storytelling
• Balancing groove-based accompaniment with vocal line clarity
• Sustaining emotional connection in contemporary musical idioms