Lullaby of Broadway (and "Forty-Second Street"): Choral SoundPax

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the glitzy, energetic spirit of these classic Warren numbers while keeping the choral writing accessible and fun to sing. The included instrumental parts give your choir the authentic pit band sound that makes these Broadway standards feel genuinely theatrical, not like a concert transcription. This is repertoire that sparks real excitement in rehearsal because students recognize the tunes, love the style, and get to experience the collaborative thrill of singing with live instrumentalists.

Stepping into the bright lights and organized chaos of Broadway's golden age, complete with snappy rhythms, toe-tapping melodies, and that infectious blend of jazz and spectacle that defined the era. The arrangement captures the gloss and energy of a pit band backing up dancers and comedians, inviting your choir to feel like professional performers rather than students reading from a score.

This octavo works for any community, school, or church choir seeking high-energy, accessible Broadway repertoire that showcases vocal skill without requiring advanced harmonic sophistication. The presence of instrumental parts makes it ideal for programs that can support live accompaniment or hybrid rehearsal contexts. Singers at any level enjoy performing recognizable standards with genuine theatrical flair.

• Communicate the rhythmic precision of the swing style during early rehearsals; these melodies sit on the beat in ways that differ from classical phrasing, and clarity here makes the difference between a polished and a sloppy delivery.
• Record a rough rehearsal blend before the instrumentalists arrive so the choir knows the harmonic foundation and can lock in faster when parts rehearse together.
• Encourage attention to diction in the rhythmic passages; the lyrics land best when articulated crisply on the beat, which feels natural to the style but requires intentional rehearsal.
• Use the recorded accompaniment in early stages to establish tempos and style, then transition to live accompaniment as the choir gains confidence with the material.

These paired standards work beautifully in a Broadway-themed concert or pops program where you want crowd-pleasing material that feels authentically theatrical. They also serve as excellent selections for community events, end-of-year celebrations, or mixed programs where classical and contemporary works sit side by side. Consider programming them mid-concert to shift the energy and remind your audience why these tunes have endured for nearly a century.

• Singing syncopated rhythms with precision and style
• Interpreting swing articulation and phrasing
• Balancing choral blend while maintaining character and energy
• Collaborating with instrumental accompanists
• Performing with theatrical presence and showmanship