I Put a Spell on You: Auxiliary Percussion

This arrangement gives your choir access to a song that genuinely excites audiences across age groups and feels contemporary regardless of when you perform it. Jacob Narverud's SoundPax setting preserves the menacing charm of the original while remaining accessible for mixed or soprano choruses, and the included PartTrax MP3s mean your singers hear the grooves and vocal lines immediately rather than struggling through cold rehearsals.

Mischievous and hypnotic. The arrangement wraps Hawkins' spell-casting charm in modern R&B-influenced production while keeping the vocal writing singable and fun. Expect your audience to recognize it instantly, and expect your singers to feel the swagger of performing a genuine classic.

Directors building October programming or seeking accessible pop choral repertoire that appeals to mixed and female voice choirs. This works equally well for concert settings, musicals, and pops shows where you need a song that's immediately recognizable and theatrically compelling.

• Lean into the dramatic atmosphere the accompaniment creates; encourage singers to match the intensity and commitment they hear in the full performance mix during sectional rehearsals.
• Pay attention to rhythmic precision in the backdrop figures and speak-sing sections; these moments define the song's swagger and require tighter ensemble work than traditional hymn-style singing.
• Use the part-predominant mixes to isolate each voice line and ensure singers hear exactly where they sit in the arrangement before pulling voices together.
• Consider layering in simple choreography or staging that complements the mysterious character without overwhelming the vocal work; the arrangement itself carries the magic.

Program this as a contrast piece or finale on a fall concert, or include it on a pops show where it anchors a 1950s-influenced set. It also works beautifully as a standalone Halloween performance piece for community events or school shows. The familiar melody and theatrical appeal make it an excellent bridge between traditional choral literature and contemporary pop culture.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated figures and syncopated ensemble singing
• Vocal character work and expressive delivery matching a recorded style
• Blend and balance within a more groove-oriented harmonic texture
• Sustaining a dramatic theatrical commitment across an entire arrangement