Lullaby of Broadway: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Teena Chinn has captured the infectious energy of this jazz standard without overcomplicating it for developing singers. The two-part writing lets you build confidence in younger choirs while keeping the swing feel and rhythmic drive completely intact. Directors get a crowd-pleasing number that doesn't sacrifice musicality for accessibility.

Pure Broadway joy translated for young voices. The arrangement sparkles with the original's playful energy, the kind that makes singers grin and audiences tap their feet. There's a lightness here, a sense of theatrical fun that comes through in every phrase.

Young choirs (middle school through early high school) ready to tackle swing and jazz idioms without heavy harmonic complexity. This works especially well for groups seeking repertoire that connects pop culture history to choral artistry while keeping rehearsal time focused on musicianship rather than part-learning struggle.

• Nail the rhythmic precision on the syncopated passages; this arrangement's swing character depends on crisp attacks and releases rather than legato phrasing.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the up-tempo groove, then gradually shift toward live piano once singers internalize the swing feel.
• Encourage fingersnaps on the backbeat to anchor the feel and keep energy from sagging during sustained notes.
• Shape the melodic line expressively even within the two-part texture; the tune's charm comes through when singers sing with intention, not just accuracy.

Open a spring or pops concert with this as an upbeat opener that sets an energetic tone and hooks the audience immediately. Pair it with other jazz or standards-based arrangements to build a thematic set, or use it mid-concert as a breather between heavier choral works to remind singers (and audiences) that choral music can be joyful and entertaining.

• Swing rhythm and syncopation
• Jazz articulation and phrasing
• Two-part voicing and blend
• Rhythmic independence (maintaining steady pulse while singing syncopated lines)
• Dynamic control and expression within a fast-moving arrangement