In My Blood (arr. Jacob Narverud): TTBB Choral Octavo

Jacob Narverud's arrangement captures the emotional core of this song while tailoring it thoughtfully for male voices. The piece gives singers contemporary material with genuine substance, avoiding the hollow energy of many pop-to-choral adaptations. Programming this signals to students that their musical tastes belong in the concert hall.

Introspective and unflinching, this arrangement unfolds with the intimacy of someone confessing something difficult. The TTBB writing creates rich harmonic space while maintaining the song's direct emotional address, avoiding bombast in favor of genuine vulnerability.

Male choirs of all levels looking to expand beyond traditional repertoire with a song that feels current and personally meaningful to singers. Directors seeking music that demonstrates serious artistry while connecting with pop audiences at concerts.

• Balance the homophonic sections with careful attention to blend; male voices often need reminding that blend doesn't mean backing off their resonance.
• Let the harmonic progression breathe naturally rather than pushing tempo. This song lives in its emotional phrasing, not its rhythmic drive.
• Work the text with attention to authentic delivery. Pop music rewards conversational diction, not the overly formal tone some singers default to in choral settings.

Pair this with other contemporary selections to create a cohesive pop or modern music set, or place it as a contrasting moment in a mixed repertoire concert where its emotional directness cuts through heavier classical material. The sixteen pages make it manageable as a season-long learning project without overwhelming rehearsal time.

• Blend and balance in four-part male voicing
• Rhythmic precision in contemporary pop idioms
• Authentic text delivery in non-classical styles
• Harmonic awareness across multiple voice parts