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Nice Work If You Can Get It: SATB Choral Octavo

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Nice Work If You Can Get It Cover Image
Nice Work If You Can Get It: SATB Choral Octavo

Nice Work If You Can Get It: SATB Choral Octavo

Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / arr. Jay Althouse

Item: 00-39727
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Description
Originally written for the 1937 movie A Damsel in Distress, this Gershwin classic was featured in the 1992 Tony Award-winning musical Crazy for You and has been recently revived as the title song of the 2012 Broadway hit. Jay's swingin' arrangement features tight harmonies and two brief solos.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
UPC: 038081443881
SKU: 00-39727

More about this title

About the Composer: George Gershwin

George Gershwin (1898-1937) bridged concert music and popular song with a fluency that few composers have matched. His ability to write memorable melodies, sophisticated harmonies, and rhythmically vital music made him central to American musical theater and song standards. Works like Rhapsody in Blue secured his reputation as a serious composer, while songs like this one reveal his gift for writing music that could satisfy both popular audiences and trained musicians.

Gershwin's death at 38 cut short a career of remarkable productivity and innovation. His influence on music education extends through the standards he created, which remain essential repertoire for jazz ensembles, music theory classes, and choral programs. Teachers return to Gershwin because his music teaches harmonic language, rhythmic vitality, and the art of the memorable melody all at once.

Why we love this

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the swagger and warmth of this Gershwin standard without losing sight of what makes it endure: the melody is irresistible, and the harmonic sophistication runs deeper than the breezy tempo suggests. The tight voicings and two solo moments give your singers real character to inhabit, making this feel like a performance rather than a vocal exercise.

What to expect

Optimistic and clever, with the urbane charm of 1930s songwriting. The melody dances above warm harmonic support, and the rhythm section (provided by recorded accompaniment) invites the singers into a sophisticated but never stuffy swing groove. There's real joy in the writing, the kind that comes from perfectly matched lyrics and melody.

Who it's for

This octavo works for intermediate to advanced high school and college choirs, as well as adult community choirs with some jazz or contemporary experience. The arrangement demands secure blend, listening skills, and comfort with jazz inflection, but the piece itself is approachable and immediately engaging for audiences.

How to get the most out of it

  • Treat the swinging rhythm with genuine jazz inflection rather than strict metronomic precision; the syncopation comes alive when singers feel the pocket rather than count it
  • Balance the solo lines prominently without overbalancing the ensemble; these brief moments should feel like natural conversation within the group
  • Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the ensemble into the style early in rehearsal, then gradually reduce dependency so singers internalize the groove
  • Shape the harmonic movement in the SATB sections with clear voice leading; block chords played straight will flatten the Gershwin sophistication

How to use it

Open a concert with this as an immediate mood-setter and audience connector, or program it alongside other standards-based arrangements to create a "Great American Songbook" set. It pairs well with other Gershwin material or with contemporary pop arrangements that share its rhythmic vitality and harmonic intelligence.

Skills your students will build

  • Jazz articulation and swing rhythms (eighth-note triplet feel, syncopation)
  • SATB blend and balance in close-harmony voicings
  • Harmonic analysis of Tin Pan Alley and jazz-influenced chords
  • Solo performance confidence within ensemble context
  • Listening to a recorded accompaniment track and singing securely against it

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