Let's Face The Music And Dance: SAB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the swagger and sophistication of Berlin's standard while making it genuinely fun to sing in three-part mixed voicing. The jazz and Latin elements give choirs a chance to work with stylistic nuance that goes beyond classical phrasing, and the song's built-in charisma means singers stay engaged through rehearsals and performances.

Sophisticated without pretension, the piece radiates the confidence of a song that's been performed thousands of times and only gotten better. The arrangement has a shimmer to it, with moments that swing and others that dance, creating an experience that feels both polished and playful.

Directors programming concerts that blend classic American standards with contemporary arrangements will find this arrangement ideal for mixed choirs of intermediate skill. It works equally well for groups wanting to explore jazz and Latin styles or for those simply seeking a crowd-pleasing number with genuine musical substance.

• Lock the rhythmic feel early. This tune demands a confident, relaxed swing that won't land if sections are tentative about the beat.
• Pay attention to articulation contrasts. Let legato lines breathe while keeping rhythmic hits crisp, especially in passages with jazz phrasing.
• Balance the alto line carefully. In SAB writing, the middle voice can disappear if singers aren't aware of their harmonic role and how it sits against the melody.

Position this as a concert centerpiece or as the perfect anchor for a set of standards and jazz-inflected pop. It pairs naturally with other Berlin arrangements or songs from the American Songbook, and its ten pages make it substantial enough to justify programming without overstaying its welcome.

• Jazz phrasing and swing articulation
• Latin rhythm vocabulary and feel
• Balancing independent lines in three-part harmony
• Stylistic interpretation within a popular music context