Nice Work If You Can Get It: Choral SoundPax

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the swagger of this standard without losing its elegance. The tight harmonies and two featured solos give your singers moments to shine while keeping the ensemble fully engaged, and the swing feel invites genuine joy in rehearsal and performance.

Sophisticated and energetic, with the smooth urbanity of 1930s jazz and the melodic generosity Gershwin was known for. The arrangement lets you feel both the casual ease of a swing number and the craftsmanship underneath.

Intermediate to advanced choir programs looking for a contemporary arrangement of a beloved standard. This works well for ensembles with confident singers ready to handle part independence and the rhythmic demands of swing phrasing.

• Keep the tempo moving with confidence; the swing feel depends on rhythmic precision and buoyant phrasing rather than slowness.
• Shape the harmony lines as a unit. Individual singers should hear how their part creates color within the chord, not stand out from it.
• Highlight the contrast between ensemble and solo sections; use dynamic contrast and slight ensemble pull-back to let your soloists breathe.

Pair this with other jazz standards or American songbook repertoire for a concert focused on popular music's compositional depth. It also works as a lighter, engaging contrast to more serious choral works on a mixed program.

• Swing rhythm and stylistic articulation in a choral context
• Part independence within four-part harmony
• Solo performance within an ensemble setting
• Stylistically informed phrasing and dynamics in arranged standards