Make Them Hear You (from Ragtime): TTBB Choral Octavo

Jeff Funk's arrangement captures the defiant urgency of this number without sacrificing the melody's accessibility for men's voices. The piece sits comfortably for TTBB singers while preserving Flaherty's gift for writing lines that feel both singable and dramatically powerful, making it ideal for choirs that want Broadway substance at a manageable difficulty level.

Urgent and defiant. The piece channels the determination of its source material, with a melody that insists on being heard. There's an undercurrent of conviction running through every phrase, supported by harmonies that feel contemporary and energetic rather than traditional or nostalgic.

Men's choirs at the intermediate level who want Broadway repertoire with dramatic substance. This arrangement works equally well for treble-heavy programs using the flexible voicing options (TB, TTB, TBB, or TTBB) to match their singers.

• Balance the homophonic passages so the text lands with clarity; this lyric demands to be heard, and every word carries dramatic weight.
• Find the rhythmic precision in the accompaniment before layering in vocal lines; the groove of the rhythm section supports the vocal declaration rather than competing with it.
• Shape the melody through phrase contours rather than belting from the top; Flaherty's lines breathe and build, so trace that arc across each section.
• Bring ensemble awareness to the dynamic range; the song's power comes from controlled intensity, not from pushing volume indiscriminately.

Program this as a showcase number for your men's section in a mixed concert, or as the centerpiece of a Broadway-themed performance. Its moderate difficulty and 12-page length make it sustainable alongside other repertoire without overwhelming rehearsal time, while its theatrical power ensures it lands as a concert highlight.

• Singing rhythmically precise lines within a contemporary harmonic framework
• Balancing text projection with musical line in an ensemble setting
• Accessing Broadway performance style appropriate to the material's dramatic intent
• Negotiating flexible voicing when singers are absent or the section is smaller than typical TTBB setup