Magic to Do: SATB Choral Octavo

Billingsley's orchestration captures everything that makes this song magnetic while giving it fresh harmonic color that feels contemporary without erasing Schwartz's original charm. Your singers will recognize it immediately, which means they arrive already invested in nailing the performance. The arrangement sits perfectly for mixed ensembles, with strong voice leading that rewards careful balancing.

A burst of theatrical energy that feels both intimate and grand. The arrangement sparkles with possibility, driven by hopeful text and bright harmonies that lift the listener without ever losing the song's emotional core. It's the kind of piece that reminds audiences why they love live choral music.

This works for high school choirs, college ensembles, and accomplished community choruses. It's especially valuable for programs that need repertoire with strong audience recognition and genuine musical depth, or for directors looking to bridge contemporary pop-choral styles with solid harmonic writing.

• Build the energy deliberately through the first half rather than starting at full volume. The arrangement gains momentum, so resist the urge to front-load intensity.
• Shape the melody with a light, bright tone in the soprano line. This isn't a power ballad; it's a song about possibility and optimism.
• If using the recorded accompaniment, rehearse without it first to lock your own ensemble cohesion, then layer it in during final rehearsals.
• Attend to the text clarity in all voice parts, especially in the busier harmonic passages. The lyrics are what connect your audience to the story.

Open a spring concert with this to set an uplifting tone immediately, or anchor a Broadway-themed program alongside other Schwartz selections. It also works beautifully as a finale number when you want the audience to leave energized and humming.

• Ensemble balance in four-part contemporary harmony
• Sustaining energy and momentum across a longer form
• Character singing and theatrical expression in a secular context
• Text-driven phrasing in musical theater style