Heart of Stone: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This arrangement captures the emotional architecture of the original while making it accessible for high school and collegiate choirs. The R&B groove and woven textures create sophisticated harmonic movement that singers find genuinely engaging, not condescending. Programming a Tony-winning work signals to your singers that their repertoire matters in the broader musical conversation.

The piece radiates quiet determination wrapped in modern production energy. Jane Seymour's devotion unfolds over an insistent R&B pocket, building from intimate vulnerability to a layered, orchestral climax that feels both contemporary and timeless. Singing it delivers the satisfaction of a song that knows exactly where it's going.

This octavo works for intermediate to advanced choirs seeking contemporary pop repertoire with theatrical depth. It suits programs that program Broadway, want to engage students in current musical theater, or need a powerful solo feature that also functions as a full choral statement.

• Balance the accompanying parts so the melody floats cleanly above the R&B groove; resist the urge to push the bottom voices.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in the groove first, then layer in the harmonic complexity of the choral parts.
• Shape the final flourish as a true ensemble moment, treating the layered textures like instrumental backgrounds rather than additional melody lines.
• Pay attention to vowel consistency across the divided sections; unified vowels in the groove parts anchor the entire sound.

Place this as a standout moment in a pop or contemporary concert, or pair it with other SIX selections to build a Broadway-centered program. Its emotional maturity and sophisticated arrangement make it equally at home in a mixed recital featuring contrasting styles, where it will anchor the contemporary moment with Broadway legitimacy.

• Singing R&B rhythmic grooves with precision and style
• Balancing layered harmonic textures in a pop idiom
• Interpreting contemporary Broadway music with dramatic intentionality
• Ensemble blend across divided sections with different rhythmic roles
• Sustaining emotional arc through modern production techniques