Make Them Hear You: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Flaherty's melodies sit naturally in the male voice and carry genuine emotional weight without demanding extreme vocal ranges. Jeff Funk's arrangement honors the song's Broadway roots while making it accessible for high school and community choirs, and the included SoundTrax recording gives singers a reliable reference for learning the part.

The song carries the narrative intensity of Ragtime's most stirring moments, building toward moments of genuine conviction and vulnerability. Sung well, it captures that distinctive Broadway quality where melody and meaning fuse into something that resonates long after the final chord.

Men's choirs at the high school and community levels will find this arrangement exactly fitted to their needs. Directors programming Broadway repertoire or seeking contemporary secular pieces with substance will value both the familiar musical material and Funk's thoughtful voicing.

• Balance the melody between the two upper voice parts; this arrangement distributes the primary line, so each section needs to understand whether it's carrying or supporting the tune at any given moment.
• Shape the phrasing around the lyrical content rather than the bar lines. Ragtime's story songs depend on storytelling clarity, so breathe where the text naturally suggests a thought break.
• Let the lower voices anchor the sound without oversinging. Men's choir arrangements thrive when the bass and baritone provide foundation rather than compete with the leads.
• Use the SoundTrax recording to lock the rhythm section parts, but encourage singers to perform expressively rather than mechanically matching every inflection on the track.

This works as a anchor piece in a concert featuring Broadway selections, or as a standalone feature showcasing your men's ensemble in popular contemporary music. It also fits naturally into programming that celebrates American musical theater or explores themes of voice and visibility.

• Reading parts where the melodic line moves between voice sections
• Sustaining legit singing through emotionally demanding material
• Phrasing narrative text with musical intelligence
• Balancing solo voices within the ensemble texture
• Interpreting Broadway style without oversinging or losing vocal health