It Had to Be You Cover Image

It Had to Be You: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$22.95 USD
$22.95 USD
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It Had to Be You Cover Image
It Had to Be You: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

It Had to Be You: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

By Isham Jones / arr. Steve Zegree

Item: 00-24144
$22.95
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Description
This romantic classic from the 1944 Hollywood musical Show Business regained enormous popularity when Harry Connick, Jr. recorded it for the hit 1989 movie, When Harry Met Sally. Here, Steve Zegree presents his vocal arrangemnts.

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Additional Details
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081262383
SKU: 00-24144

More about this title

About the Composer: Isham Jones

Isham Jones (1894-1956) was a prolific composer and bandleader whose work defined the sound of American popular music in the 1920s and 1930s. His ability to craft memorable melodies that bridged jazz idioms and classical sensibility made him one of the most recorded composers of his era, with his songs becoming standards performed across every genre from orchestral to vocal ensembles.

Jones's gift for writing accessible yet sophisticated music earned him work in Hollywood, where "It Had to Be You" became one of his enduring contributions to film. His melodies sit naturally in the voice and reward singers with satisfying harmonic progressions that feel both elegant and emotionally direct.

Why we love this

Steve Zegree's arrangement captures the warmth and sophistication that made this song a standard, and the recorded accompaniment on the included SoundTrax CD gives your singers a performance model that's both inspiring and supportive. The piece sits comfortably for mixed voices while preserving the romantic character that audiences know and love from the Harry Connick, Jr. recording.

What to expect

Warm, nostalgic, and gently romantic. The melody unfolds with the easy confidence of a song that has earned its place in popular memory, supported by harmonies that enhance rather than complicate the emotional directness of the lyric. It's the feeling of a familiar memory shared with people you care about.

Who it's for

This arrangement suits mixed choirs of all levels who want to add a beloved popular standard to their repertoire. It's particularly effective for groups preparing concert programs that include lighter, accessible material alongside more classical work, or for school and community choirs seeking a piece that audiences will recognize and enjoy immediately.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the melody line carefully so the principal voice can shape the lyric without overwhelming the harmonic support underneath.
  • Use the SoundTrax accompaniment in rehearsal to establish the harmonic context, then gradually move toward independence as singers internalize their parts.
  • Shape the phrase endings with gentle dynamic tapering rather than abrupt cutoffs; this song thrives on legit, flowing vocal lines.
  • Tune the final chord deliberately, as major triads at soft dynamics can drift sharp with vocal warmth.

How to use it

Position this among lighter fare in a concert to provide contrast with heavier classical or spiritual repertoire. It works beautifully as a closing number or as part of a program exploring American standards and popular music traditions. The familiarity of the tune makes it an excellent vehicle for building ensemble confidence early in the season while still offering genuine musical substance.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing lyrical, sustained phrases with proper breath support
  • Balancing blend and balance in mixed-voice harmony
  • Interpreting and executing dynamic shaping in popular music contexts
  • Following and responding to recorded accompaniment as an ensemble
  • Intonation accuracy within four-part harmonic structures

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