Marvin Gaye (feat. Meghan Trainor) (arr. Jo Annemans): SSAA Choral Octavo

Jo Annemans has created an arrangement that honors the original's modern R&B sensibility while giving SSAA voices genuine musical independence. The pop idiom keeps singers engaged with material they recognize, while the a cappella setting demands real precision in tuning and rhythmic unity across the ensemble. It's the kind of piece that makes pop music legitimate in the concert setting.

Modern and accessible, with the kind of smooth harmonic movement that comes from contemporary R&B production. The a cappella format creates intimacy and requires singers to listen across parts in ways that build ensemble awareness quickly.

Choirs looking for engaging contemporary material that doesn't compromise on arranging craft. This works well for groups with solid intonation skills and enough rehearsal time to develop the rhythmic independence that a cappella pop demands.

• Establish the groove before worrying about perfection; lock the rhythmic feel in ensemble rehearsals so individual lines can sit comfortably within the pocket.
• Balance the vocal lines by section first, then within sections. This arrangement likely carries melody through multiple voices, so relative dynamic levels matter more than uniform loudness.
• Record and listen back frequently during rehearsal. Without instrumental support, tuning issues and rhythmic slippage become immediately obvious and worth addressing early.
• Treat the contemporary language and phrasing as seriously as you would a classical text; conversational delivery requires as much attention to diction and breath placement as any other style.

Slot this into a concert that mixes genres, or build an entire set around contemporary artists arranged for voices. It works equally well as a show closer that leaves audiences in a good mood or as a statement piece demonstrating your choir's range beyond traditional classical repertoire.

• Rhythmic precision in contemporary styles without instrumental reference
• Tuning accuracy across multiple vocal lines in a cappella texture
• Maintaining consistent groove while managing independent melodic lines
• Stylistically appropriate phrasing in pop and R&B idiom
• Listening and balancing skills necessary for unaccompanied singing