Isn't It Romantic?: SSA Choral Octavo

Steve Zegree's arrangement brings out the sophisticated harmonic language of this classic without burying the melody under unnecessary complexity. The SSA voicing opens this song to singers who might otherwise feel locked out of the jazz standard repertoire, and the arrangement respects both the lyrical beauty and the subtle swing sensibility of the original.

Romantic without sentimentality, wistful but grounded in genuine affection. The melody floats above rich supporting voices that create an intimate, late-night atmosphere even in a rehearsal room or concert hall. There's a lightness to it, but an intelligence underneath; singers feel both the warmth of the song and the craftsmanship that holds it together.

Any SSA or SSAA choir seeking to expand beyond traditional concert repertoire into the sophisticated world of American standards. This works equally well for advanced high school groups, college choirs, and community ensembles that want to perform music with real harmonic substance and cultural weight.

• Shape the melody with the text rather than treating it as a series of notes. Hart's lyrics have natural speech rhythms that should guide your phrasing.
• Balance the inner voices carefully in the sectional moments; Zegree's counterpoint should enhance the harmonic color without overshadowing the primary line.
• Find the jazz inflection without overselling it. These songs swing, but they also have genuine tenderness; let both qualities coexist.
• Work the accompaniment into the rehearsal early so singers can hear how their parts sit against the full harmonic picture.

Pair this with other jazz standards or American songbook selections to build a concert segment that showcases your choir's versatility and musicality. It's also an excellent teaching tool in a general music or music history class focused on Broadway's golden age, offering a song that students genuinely want to sing while understanding its place in American cultural history.

• Singing jazz inflection and swing eighth notes
• Interpreting sophisticated harmonic progressions across three or four parts
• Text interpretation and expressive phrasing in a popular music context
• Blending in sectional voicings while maintaining individual line independence