I Wish You Love: SATB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the wistful elegance of this French composition without oversimplifying it for choir. The voicing preserves the harmonic sophistication of the original while remaining accessible for SATB singers working at a moderate level, making it ideal for groups wanting to expand beyond contemporary pop into the jazz standard repertoire.

Bittersweet and generous. The melody unfolds with the graceful resignation of someone offering a sincere goodbye, supported by warm harmonies that suggest both melancholy and acceptance. There is space for genuine emotion here without melodrama.

SATB choirs with singers who read at an intermediate level and have some exposure to jazz or pop voicing. This works well for groups preparing a concert that blends classical rigor with American songbook repertoire.

• Establish the song's narrative arc by shaping the vocal line as if telling a story; resist the urge to sing every phrase with the same dynamic weight.
• Balance the inner voices with care in the jazz harmonies so they support rather than mask the melody.
• Work the text for natural diction and lyrical flow; this arrangement rewards singers who commit to legit vocal production without sacrificing the jazz sensibility of the piece.

Pair this with other standards from the Great American Songbook or French popular songs for a concert exploring the international jazz tradition. It also serves as an excellent bridge piece between a classical first half and lighter pop selections, offering singers and audiences a moment of sophisticated reflection.

• Singing jazz harmonies and voice leading
• Phrasing and interpretation of standard lyrics
• Blend and balance in SATB texture with sophisticated chord extensions
• Legit vibrato control appropriate to both jazz and choral contexts