I Lived (arr. Jacob Narverud): SAB Choral Octavo

Jacob Narverud's arrangement captures the soaring emotional core of the original while making it genuinely singable for three-part mixed ensembles. The piece works as both a concert showcase and a reflective moment in any program; its message of resilience and meaningful living resonates with student singers and audiences alike.

The arrangement opens a window into presence and purpose; there's an unhurried quality that lets the text breathe. Harmonically warm and never saccharine, it invites singers and listeners into genuine reflection.

Directors building choirs that span age ranges and voice maturity will appreciate how this arrangement accommodates developing alto and bass sections without sacrificing the song's impact. High school and community choirs seeking contemporary material with emotional authenticity will find solid musical ground here.

• Balance the sustained harmonic layers carefully so the homophonic sections feel spacious rather than thin. The SAB texture requires intentional voice leading to maintain the song's fullness.
• Lean into the text's emotional arc by varying dynamic intensity across the form. The message builds, so let your singers feel that trajectory rather than maintaining a flat intensity.
• Treat the rhythmic figures in relation to the text prosody. Pop arrangements often sit slightly behind the beat; work against that instinct here to keep the lyric intelligible and the emotional statement clear.

This fits naturally into a concert exploring resilience, identity, or meaningful living through contemporary song. Consider pairing it with other OneRepublic arrangements or positioning it as a reflective set closer that sends audiences out thoughtful rather than purely energized.

• Voicing independent lines in three-part SAB texture
• Sustaining long phrases with consistent breath support
• Shaping text for emotional communication across a pop song form
• Balancing blend in sparse harmonic settings