Lullaby of Broadway (and "Forty-Second Street"): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's 2-part arrangement captures the swagger of these standards while keeping the voicing accessible for younger or developing choirs. The clever medley structure opens with "Forty-Second Street" before settling into the jazzy sophistication of "Lullaby of Broadway," giving you two distinct musical moments without requiring two separate pieces. Recorded accompaniments and movement suggestions make this especially valuable if you're building a concert with choreography or working with singers who benefit from visual staging.

The opening crackles with the energy of the Great White Way, bright and syncopated, before the music settles into the sultry, late-night atmosphere of "Lullaby of Broadway." There's a sophisticated elegance to these melodies; they evoke the golden age of musical theater while remaining singable and joyful for young voices.

This arrangement suits 2-part choirs at the middle school through early high school level, as well as developing adult choirs seeking repertoire that feels theatrical without overwhelming vocal demands. Directors looking for Broadway-style material that's neither cutesy nor saccharine will find these standards genuinely satisfying to teach and perform.

• Keep the opening "Forty-Second Street" section bright and energetic; the tempo should feel like New York at midnight rather than sluggish. Althouse's arrangement will breathe naturally if you trust the swing feel and don't rush the transitions.
• Shape the "Lullaby of Broadway" section with sophisticated phrasing in the harmony parts. These aren't belted show tunes; they're smoky, intimate standards that need genuine vocal line to avoid sounding thin.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the rhythm section and establish the swing groove, especially for the pickup figures and syncopated entrances that define the arrangement's character.
• Reference the movement and staging suggestions from the Danza! DVD if your singers are using choreography. The staging will reinforce musicality and help younger singers understand the style of these pieces.

This works beautifully in a concert celebrating Broadway standards or American songbook classics, where it can anchor a set of similar-era material. It's also an excellent choice for school musicals or pops concerts where you want genuine theatrical style without the demands of a full show tune. The inclusion of movement suggestions makes it particularly valuable for programs that blend music with light staging or dance.

• Swing rhythms and syncopation (pickup figures, triplet feels)
• 2-part harmony singing with independent melodic lines
• Legit Broadway vocal style (as distinct from belting or classical singing)
• Phrasing and text interpretation in popular song contexts
• Coordination of singing with movement and staging