I Want It That Way (arr. Nathan Howe): SAB Choral Octavo

Nathan Howe's arrangement captures the melodic DNA that made this song an instant classic while translating it smartly for three-part mixed voices. The straightforward voicing lets the emotional core of the song shine through without requiring advanced harmonic reading, making it accessible for choirs that still want to perform music their audiences genuinely recognize and love.

Earnest and driving, with the kind of emotional directness that pop music at its best achieves. The arrangement preserves that sense of yearning in the melody while building vocal texture underneath, creating something that feels both intimate and powerful at once.

Choirs looking to connect with popular music in an arrangement that respects both the song and singers' abilities. This works equally well for high school choirs wanting contemporary repertoire and adult community choirs seeking recognizable material that still challenges musicianship.

• Lean into the pop sensibility of the phrasing. This isn't classical music, so allow your singers to phrase across bar lines and breathe where the lyrics naturally suggest, not where traditional choral phrasing rules might dictate.
• Balance the altos and tenors carefully in the harmony sections. Since SAB keeps the middle voices active, make sure neither dominates the soprano line that carries the main melody.
• Consider whether you want the arrangement sung with or without accompaniment. The octavo works either way, so experiment in rehearsal to see which approach best suits your ensemble's strengths and your performance space.

Pair this with other contemporary pop arrangements to create a cohesive set that speaks to modern audiences, or position it as a bridge piece between classical and popular styles in a concert exploring different musical languages. It's also ideal for recruiting new singers who assume choral music exists only in traditional genres.

• Singing with pop phrasing and stylistic rubato
• Balancing three-part mixed harmony without over-weighting any single voice
• Connecting emotionally to contemporary text and melody
• Reading straightforward octavo notation and standard pop chord structures