I Got Plenty o' Nuttin': TBB Choral Octavo

Wagner's arrangement captures the swagger and soul of this Gershwin standard while tailoring it for treble-heavy choirs. The dramatic arc feels earned rather than imposed, and the part-writing avoids the trap of being either too thin or too complicated for singers who want to feel the song's character without drowning in complexity.

There's a warmth to this arrangement, a kind of dignity wrapped in casual ease. The harmonic language nods to jazz and blues while maintaining the theatrical grandeur Gershwin built into the original, creating something that feels both intimate and somehow larger than life.

Treble and mixed choirs with confident singers who can handle syncopation and jazz-inflected harmony. This arrangement works for high school through adult choirs seeking repertoire that bridges popular song and choral sophistication.

• Balance the melody line so the text comes through clearly; the lyric's conversational tone matters as much as the vocal line itself.
• Lean into the jazz-influenced harmonies with a relaxed, swung feel rather than strict metric precision.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the ensemble's phrasing and discover how the arrangement breathes beneath your voices.
• Pay attention to the dramatic arc Wagner builds, this isn't a novelty number but a genuine emotional statement about contentment and community.

Pair this with other American standards or Broadway masterworks for a concert exploring American song. Its dramatic presence makes it a natural show-closer, though it also works beautifully in a set that traces popular song through the 20th century.

• Singing syncopated rhythms with stylistic accuracy
• Navigating jazz-influenced harmonies and altered chords
• Balancing melody against harmonic accompaniment in close voicing
• Performing with dramatic expression in a secular theatrical context