More Than You Know: SSAA Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the elegance of this Youmans standard while making it genuinely singable for SSAA ensembles of varying sizes. The opening solo creates a natural storytelling moment, and the lush harmonies feel earned rather than overdone, giving your choir real musicality to sink their teeth into without burying the melody.

Sophisticated yet accessible, this is a ballad that breathes with restraint and warmth. The writing lets each voice part feel singing rather than just supporting harmony, creating a sense of intimacy even in larger formations.

This arrangement works equally well for traditional choral programs and jazz or pop ensembles looking to expand their repertoire. Directors with choirs of 20 singers or 120 will find the orchestration flexible and rewarding.

• Balance the opening solo carefully against the accompanying voices; the soloist should project with confidence, but the harmonic support underneath needs definition too.
• Shape phrases through the harmonic progressions rather than stopping at bar lines; these changes are what make the song memorable, so let singers feel them moving forward.
• Use the piano accompaniment to establish the harmonic foundation clearly in rehearsal, especially for less experienced choristers learning lush jazz voicings.

Pair this with other standards from the Songbook era for a concert exploring American popular song, or use it as an elegant contrast in a mixed-repertoire program. The piece works beautifully as a second-half opener when you want to shift the emotional temperature.

• Jazz harmony interpretation and voice leading
• Solo performance within an ensemble context
• Sustained legit singing through lush chromatic chord changes
• Ensemble blend and balance in four-part writing