One Song: TTBB & Opt. Solo Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes has crafted an arrangement that honors the song's soulful core while giving men's voices the chance to deliver this uplifting message with warmth and conviction. The optional solo creates a natural spotlight moment without overshadowing the collective power of the ensemble, and the progression toward an inspiring finish gives your choir a genuine emotional arc to perform.

Soulful and genuine. The piece unfolds like a quiet conversation that gradually builds into something affirming, never sacrificing sincerity for volume. The harmonies are warm and contemporary, rooted in R&B sensibility but grounded in solid choral writing.

This arrangement works well for men's choirs, mixed ensembles with strong lower voice sections, and high school through adult singers who can sustain legit singing and handle the emotional content. It's an excellent choice when you need a secular piece that speaks to unity and hope without requiring youth singers to play a character.

• Emphasize the legit, sustained tone quality throughout the ballad. This isn't a shouted arrangement; it requires singers to connect each phrase with intention and control.
• If using the optional solo, ensure the chosen vocalist has both the technical security and interpretive maturity to carry the emotional weight of the opening alone before the choir enters.
• Shape the harmonic progressions dynamically. Hamlisch's chord movements are sophisticated enough to reward careful attention to voice leading and balance.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock ensemble entrances and feel the harmonic rhythm, which will strengthen internal precision.

Program this alongside other contemporary pieces that explore themes of connection and brotherhood, or use it as a reflective moment that contrasts with more energetic selections. Its inspirational message and accessible style make it particularly effective as a concert closer or as the centerpiece of a themed program about peace and unity.

• Balancing legit vocal production in a contemporary idiom
• Sustaining lines through sophisticated harmonic progressions
• Interpreting optional solo passages with emotional authenticity
• Ensemble precision in R&B-influenced choral arranging