It's Only A Paper Moon (arr. Craig McLeish): SATB Choral Octavo
As performed by Nat King Cole / Arranged by Craig McLeish
Item: 35-DS01976387
Digital Download
$1.99
Minimum order quantity: 10 copies
Please note: Under U.S. copyright law, you must purchase the exact number of copies needed for your ensemble. Printing, duplicating or sharing additional copies is strictly prohibited.
Pickup currently not available
Description
Discover MakeMusic Cloud: thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Nat King Cole revolutionized popular music by bringing jazz-trained musicality to the mainstream. His warm baritone and impeccable phrasing made him one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, recording over 100 songs that became standards.
For choral directors, Cole's legacy offers a masterclass in vocal control and interpretive restraint. His recordings demonstrate how thoughtful arrangement and disciplined ensemble singing can elevate popular material into something timeless.
Why we love this
McLeish's arrangement captures the sophisticated charm of Cole's original while making it genuinely singable for mixed voices. The two-page format keeps rehearsal time manageable, yet the voicing remains elegant enough to showcase your choir's musicianship at a spring concert or pops night.
What to expect
There's a wistful optimism running through this tune. Despite lyrics about illusions, Cole's reading always felt genuine, and McLeish's voicing preserves that warmth while adding textural color. Your singers will enjoy the melodic directness and the way harmony supports rather than complicates the story.
Who it's for
This arrangement works beautifully for intermediate to advanced choirs looking for accessible popular repertoire with genuine harmonic interest. It suits both concert settings and pops programs where you want to program something recognizable without sacrificing musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the melody line so it floats naturally above the supporting harmonies. Cole's artistry came from never pushing; let the tune speak.
Shape phrases across the bar lines rather than emphasizing downbeats. This arrangement rewards legit legato singing.
Blend alto and tenor lines carefully in the inner voices. Any section singing out of balance will undermine the arrangement's sophistication.
How to use it
Include this in a spring concert section featuring American standards or jazz-influenced repertoire. It pairs well alongside other Cole recordings or broader 20th-century popular songbook material. The modest page count makes it an ideal palate cleanser between heavier choral works.
Skills your students will build
Phrasing across bar lines in popular music idiom
Blending inner voice lines without sacrificing textural clarity
Interpreting lyrical content with restraint and subtlety
Reading SATB voicing with jazz-influenced harmonic movement
You May Also Like
Scan to Complete Your Purchase
Use your phone's camera to scan the code below
You'll log in on your phone and the order will be added to your account
