Isn't This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain?): SAB Choral Octavo

Lojeski's treatment of this Irving Berlin standard captures the sophisticated swing of the original while keeping the voicing accessible for a three-part choir. The arrangement preserves the song's essential charm and romantic wit without requiring soloists or complicated jazz chops, making it equally at home in a concert setting or a lighter program segment.

Breezy and optimistic, with an undercurrent of romantic lightheartedness. The piece captures that mid-20th century American songbook sensibility where being caught in the rain with the right person becomes an unexpected gift rather than a nuisance.

Community choirs, high school and college ensembles, and church choirs seeking repertoire that bridges popular standards with legitimate vocal writing. The SAB voicing makes this accessible to groups with developing singers while still offering musical substance for more advanced ensembles.

• Keep the tempo fluid and conversational rather than metronomic; the charm lives in allowing the phrase shapes to breathe naturally.
• Balance clarity in the SAB voicing by having the melody singer(s) sit slightly forward in the mix without overwhelming the harmonic foundation.
• Emphasize the lyrical quality of the text; this is intimate storytelling first, jazz styling second.

This works beautifully as a contrast piece in a concert mixing art song with American vernacular song, or as a standalone closer that leaves audiences smiling. Consider pairing it with other Berlin standards or early jazz repertoire to create a thematic concert block.

• Singing jazz harmonies with accurate intonation
• Interpreting swing rhythms and syncopation
• Balancing melody and harmonic parts in a three-voice texture
• Performing with diction clarity in jazz phrasing