I Got Rhythm: SSA Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes has reimagined this Gershwin standard as a rhythmic tour de force without losing the swagger and charm that makes the song unforgettable. The arrangement demands precision and style from your singers while remaining genuinely enjoyable to rehearse and perform. It's the kind of piece that makes your choir sound polished and energetic in equal measure.

Propulsive and swinging, with the kind of rhythmic energy that makes you want to move. Hayes's arrangement captures the exuberance of the original while building in countermelodies and harmonic surprises that keep the ear engaged throughout. It feels celebratory without being saccharine.

SSA choirs with intermediate to advanced musicians who thrive on rhythmic complexity and contemporary arranging approaches. This piece works for auditioned groups and competitive choirs seeking a showcase arrangement with genuine musical substance.

• Lock in the rhythmic precision early. Hayes layers multiple rhythmic ideas simultaneously, so establish a solid tempo click during rehearsals and drill the syncopated passages with particular attention to articulation and ensemble clarity.
• Balance the melody line against Hayes's harmonic voices. The SSA voicing means your soprano section carries the tune; make sure upper voices support rather than overshadow them, especially in the more densely voiced sections.
• Shape the phrasing around the lyrical content. This arrangement bounces with energy, but each phrase still needs intentional breathing and dynamic contour to avoid sounding mechanical.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock internal entrances and to help singers hear the jazz-inflected harmonic movement underneath their parts. Rehearse without it frequently so singers own their own rhythmic independence.

This is an excellent closer for a concert celebrating American popular song, or a standout moment in a jazz-influenced program. It works particularly well alongside other Great American Songbook arrangements, where its rhythmic clarity and polish will shine. Consider programming it when you want to remind your audience (and yourselves) why this music endures.

• Rhythmic precision and independence in syncopated passages
• Balancing multiple simultaneous rhythmic layers
• Jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
• Reading harmonic movement characteristic of jazz standards
• Ensemble blend across complex voicing textures