Nice Work If You Can Get It: SATB Choral Octavo

Brymer's arrangement captures the sophisticated ease of this Gershwin standard while remaining genuinely performable for SATB choirs without sacrificing its jazz vocabulary. The voicing honors the melody's inherent swing while giving each section clear, idiomatic material that stays true to the idiom rather than flattening it into generic harmony.

Casual sophistication. The music carries the swagger and self-aware charm of someone who knows they've landed a great gig and isn't about to complain. There's a lightness of touch here, buoyed by Gershwin's impeccable melody and Brymer's voicing that makes ensemble singing feel effortless and fun.

This arrangement works for intermediate to advanced choirs who have some comfort with jazz idioms and can handle the rhythmic precision it demands. It's an excellent choice for groups eager to add popular standards to their repertoire without stepping into a full musical theater production.

• Treat the text with genuine conversational lightness; Gershwin's lyrics demand clarity and charm, not operatic weight
• Let the rhythm section parts (if using accompaniment) establish the groove first; your singers should lock into that pocket rather than fighting it
• Lean into the jazz articulations and syncopations on playback or rehearsal with Finale or Sibelius, so singers absorb the rhythmic feel before ensemble rehearsals begin
• Shape phrases with the lyrical content; the self-deprecating humor only lands if the music breathes where the words do

Use this as a palate cleanser on a concert filled with classical or a cappella work, or anchor a second half with a jazz standards set. It also serves well as a morale builder late in the school year when singers need a break from heavier material while still engaging musically.

• Swing rhythm and syncopation in ensemble context
• Jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
• Text clarity and conversational delivery
• Reading jazz chord changes if using chord chart study
• Blend and balance in close harmonic writing