Moonglow: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Darmon Meader has the ear of a jazz musician and the patience of a teacher. His voicings are sophisticated enough to sound genuinely swinging, yet the ranges and voice-leading remain genuinely accessible for high school singers. You'll hear tight harmonies and smart jazz phrasing without ever feeling like you're asking kids to sing beyond their ability.

A late-night mood captured perfectly in harmony. Moonglow glides with that classic swing-era elegance, all velvet chords and gentle sway. The arrangement invites singers to sink into the warmth of tight harmonies and discover how much expressive power lives in a well-voiced jazz ballad.

High school and college choirs ready to move beyond pop arrangements into genuine vocal jazz. This octavo works beautifully for ensembles that have solid ensemble blend and can handle four-part jazz voicing with confidence. Directors programming concert pops segments or jazz festivals will find eager singers here.

• Treat the swing eighth notes with a relaxed triplet feel rather than straight rhythms; the recorded accompaniment will guide the groove, so listen carefully during rehearsal and lock into that pocket.
• Balance the inner voices; jazz harmonies crumble when altos or tenors disappear into the mix. Full-voice rehearsals with just a piano can reveal where voices need projection.
• Shape phrases with gentle dynamic swells rather than rigid blocks; this arrangement rewards singers who think like jazz musicians and breathe musically.

Slot this into a pops or jazz-focused concert where you want to showcase choral sophistication without comedy or gimmicks. It pairs naturally with other Alfred Pop Choral Series selections and provides an excellent vehicle for introducing students to authentic jazz standards. Consider featuring it in a winter or spring concert segment that celebrates vocal harmony.

• Swing rhythm feel and jazz phrasing conventions
• Reading and balancing close jazz voicings in four-part harmony
• Listening and blending to sustained jazz sonorities
• Breath control and phrase shaping in a jazz idiom