I Wish: TBB Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement captures the warmth and accessibility of Wonder's original while giving male voices a genuine role in the storytelling. The piece sits comfortably for singers of varying abilities, yet the harmonic sophistication rewards careful attention to blend and balance.

Warm and intimate, like a group of friends gathered to express something genuine. The arrangement honors the tenderness of Wonder's lyric while the male voicing creates an unexpected harmonic color that feels both modern and grounded.

TBB and TTBB choirs looking for a contemporary a cappella piece that connects with audiences without sacrificing musicianship. This works equally well for middle school ensembles developing blend skills and high school groups seeking accessible concert programming.

• Lock the vowel shapes across all three parts during the sustained harmonic sections; slight differences in resonance space will blur the chord quality
• Shape the phrases around the lyrical meaning rather than resting at every bar line; this song breathes best when lines feel conversational
• Balance the lower voices to support rather than dominate; the arrangement works when the top line can float naturally over steady harmonic support
• Record a rough pass early in rehearsal to help singers hear how their individual lines contribute to the whole sound

Pair this with other contemporary a cappella standards to build a concert segment that feels current and relatable to student audiences. It also serves as an excellent teaching piece mid-year when singers have developed enough listening skills to balance three parts with care.

• Sustaining pitch without instrumental support across longer phrases
• Blending three distinct voice parts to create unified harmonic sound
• Balancing ensemble tone while maintaining individual line integrity
• Shaping contemporary song arrangements with attention to lyrical phrasing
• Listening actively to surrounding voices while singing independently