Love Is Here to Stay: SSA Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes understands how to honor a timeless standard while making it accessible to developing SSA ensembles. The piano part drives the arrangement with real character, moving the voices through a journey that feels both sentimental and alive without overwhelming singers who are still building confidence. This is the kind of arrangement that sounds sophisticated in performance but remains genuinely singable for groups working at a solid intermediate level.

The opening unfolds with genuine warmth, the kind of sentimental expression that feels earned rather than overwrought. By the end, the swing section brings light and ease, suggesting that affection and joy can coexist in the same song.

This arrangement suits SSA or SSAA choirs at the intermediate to early advanced level who want to perform a beloved standard with polish and musicality. It works equally well for community choirs, high school ensemble programs, and college-level mixed groups willing to sing down an octave or transpose appropriately.

• Bring out the lushness of the opening by encouraging singers to balance tone quality over volume; the piano accompaniment will anchor the harmonic richness, so voices can focus on blending and sustaining clean lines.
• Shape the transition into the light swing section by gradually brightening vowel space and slightly increasing rhythmic energy; mark this shift clearly in rehearsal so it feels intentional rather than abrupt.
• Use the piano part as your rehearsal reference for voicing balance; Hayes has written this accompaniment to support specific harmonic colors, so tracking where the pianist doubles or contrasts will clarify your voice blend priorities.

Program this as a showcase piece on a spring or winter concert where you want to feature your ensemble's musicality and blend; it pairs naturally with other American standards or light jazz arrangements. It also works well as a slower, reflective moment between more energetic selections, offering your audience a chance to settle into something genuinely beautiful.

• Balancing tone quality and sustain in homophonic textures
• Navigating harmonic changes and voice leading in developed arrangements
• Transitioning between contrasting sections (lush to swing) with stylistic awareness
• Interpreting piano accompaniment cues for phrasing and dynamic shape