Let's Fall in Love: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures Porter's signature elegance while keeping the medley accessible and energetic for mixed choirs. Eight and a half minutes gives you enough material to make a real impact on a concert without demanding excessive rehearsal time. The blend of his most recognizable hits means audiences will hear something familiar in nearly every section.

Elegant and playful at once. The medley swings with the confidence of a well-dressed character delivering witty one-liners, then melts into lyrical warmth when the moment calls for it. There's glamour here, but never stuffiness.

Mixed choirs looking for a sophisticated yet audience-friendly number that doesn't require a jazz specialist to sound polished. High school and college choirs will find the arrangement vocally rewarding, while community and adult ensembles appreciate the familiarity and style of the material.

• Balance the jazz inflections in the accompaniment with clear, connected singing. The CD tracks these syncopations, so lock in rhythmically with what you hear during rehearsal.
• Attend to the text. Porter's wit lives in his lyrics, so articulate consonants cleanly and shape phrases around the words, not just the melody.
• Vary your dynamic approach across the different songs in the medley. One continuous forte becomes tiring; use the transitions between songs to shift texture and energy.
• Let the recorded accompaniment breathe. Don't rush to fill every silence. Porter's melodies are strong enough to carry pauses.

Schedule this as a standalone feature on a pops or jazz-themed concert, or use it to open a set that celebrates American songwriting. The eight-minute length makes it ideal for a full program segment without feeling like filler, and it pairs naturally with other standard arrangements or light concert fare.

• Singing with jazz inflections and swing feel
• Executing clean transitions between distinct song sections
• Interpreting rhythm and phrasing from a recorded accompaniment
• Balancing text clarity with musical style in a complex arrangement
• Sustaining energy and ensemble cohesion across an extended medley