I Want You Back / ABC (arr. Mark Brymer): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer has crafted an arrangement that captures the infectious energy of "I Want You Back" without sacrificing the harmonic sophistication your choir needs to grow. The two-part voicing keeps the focus on locking the groove and nailing the signature melodic hooks, which means your singers stay engaged rather than getting buried in complex voice-leading. This is the kind of repertoire that makes students excited to come to rehearsal.

Bright, propulsive, and instantly familiar. The arrangement channels the original's bouncy optimism and rhythmic momentum while giving singers something to sink their teeth into harmonically. There's an irresistible quality here that energizes both the performers and the audience.

Any choir director looking to add contemporary pop repertoire that actually works for developing ensembles. This arrangement serves singers from middle school through community choir settings, offering enough musical substance to justify time spent in rehearsal while remaining accessible enough that students feel immediate success.

• Lock the rhythmic pocket with your percussionists and rhythm section first. The original's infectious groove depends entirely on the band nailing the subdivision together, so spend rehearsal time getting that foundation rock solid before layering in the vocal parts.
• Shape each phrase with the original recording in mind. Listen closely to how the Jackson 5 handle the phrasing, dynamics, and slight pushes and pulls in the melody; your singers will benefit from understanding how professional artists breathe life into rhythmically driven material.
• Emphasize the counterpoint between the two parts during passages where they diverge. Even in a simplified two-part voicing, these moments provide textural interest and keep both parts engaged throughout the arrangement.
• Balance the call-and-response sections with clear spatial separation between the parts. If your ensemble is large, consider splitting the room so each part can hear itself and lock together as a unit.

Consider this as a statement opener for a pop or contemporary music concert, where its high energy can set the tone for the entire program. It also pairs naturally with other Motown-era or soul-influenced repertoire, letting you build a set that teaches students about a specific era of American music history. Fall concerts benefit especially from this kind of accessible crowd-pleaser that demonstrates your choir's range.

• Locking rhythmic precision in a groove-based context
• Balancing two independent melodic lines without losing the overall groove
• Phrasing and shaping in contemporary pop style
• Blend and intonation when singing syncopated, rhythmically active material