Pure Imagination (arr. Dave Briner): SSAA Choral Octavo

Nostalgic and tender, with the hallmark warmth of barbershop harmony underneath a song most singers already carry in their hearts. The arrangement respects the melody's gentle vulnerability while surrounding it with that rich, close harmony sound that makes barbershop so satisfying to sing.

Intermediate to advanced women's choirs seeking an accessible entry into barbershop arranging without sacrificing artistic substance. Directors who want to program something genuinely lyrical, not novelty-based, will find this arrangement rewards the investment.

• Balance the lead voice carefully in the upper staff; she carries the main melody and needs to cut through the harmony without oversinging.
• Let the barbershop chord colors bloom during sustained moments. These chords reward precise intonation, so mark tuning checkpoints in rehearsal where the harmony stacks vertically.
• Shape the phrase arc by thinking long lines rather than beat-to-beat phrasing. Barbershop style thrives when singers commit to the bigger musical gesture.

Slot this into a spring concert alongside other pops or standard repertoire; it pairs well with both contemporary pieces and traditional standards since the barbershop flavor bridges both worlds. The brevity and emotional directness make it an excellent concert closer or a poignant moment within a larger thematic program.

• Barbershop voicing and close harmony tuning
• Balancing melody against three-part texture
• Shaping sustained phrases without rhythmic support
• Blend and resonance in upper register writing