Live in Living Color: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This octavo captures the infectious energy of a Broadway showstopper and gives your choir a chance to perform a contemporary piece that audiences recognize and love. The arrangement by Eric Van Cleave is built for visual impact, with rhythmic precision and dynamic contrast that rewards choreography and staging without overshadowing the singing.

Bright, propulsive energy with a modern pop sensibility grounded in solid harmonic writing. The opening number quality means it hits hard from the first note, creating a sense of theatrical momentum that translates directly to the concert stage.

Choirs looking for contemporary repertoire that excites performers and audiences alike will find an immediate win here. This piece works for high school and college choirs with rehearsal time to invest in rhythmic precision and staging.

• Lock the rhythm section and establish a solid groove foundation before layering vocal parts; the hard-hitting character depends on ensemble precision.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to build confidence during early rehearsals, then gradually shift focus to intonation and blend once parts are secure.
• Differentiate dynamic levels between sections carefully; the arrangement's power comes from contrast, not volume alone.
• If choreography is planned, rehearse singing and movement separately first, then integrate once both are comfortable independently.

Program this as an opening number to energize an audience and set an upbeat tone for the concert. It pairs well with other contemporary pop-choral arrangements and offers visual variety when alternated with ballads or classical selections.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
• Ensemble blend and balance in sectional textures
• Integration of choreography with singing
• Singing contemporary/Broadway style with clarity and energy