Ragtime (Choral Selections): SATB Choral Octavo

This octavo captures the energy and theatrical style of one of Broadway's most critically acclaimed scores without requiring your singers to perform the entire musical. Flaherty's melodies translate beautifully to the choral setting, and Jeff Funk's arrangements maintain the show's vibrant character while remaining practical for high school and community choirs. The variety of selections lets you showcase different moods and styles within a single program.

Energetic and cinematic. These selections pulse with the forward motion of Broadway underscoring, combining syncopated rhythms with Flaherty's gift for soaring melodic lines. The result feels contemporary yet rooted in early American music idioms, creating an engaging blend of historical flavor and modern theatrical storytelling.

High school and community choirs seeking Broadway repertoire that sounds polished and theatrical without excessive technical demands. Singers already familiar with the show will bring enthusiasm to this octavo, but the arrangements stand on their own for any ensemble wanting accessible popular music with genuine musical substance.

• Leverage the recorded accompaniment to establish tempos and feel, especially for the syncopated ragtime rhythms that define the show's style.
• Attend to diction with precision. Broadway lyrics demand clarity, and Flaherty's score includes fast-moving text passages that need articulate consonants to land.
• Balance the upper voices carefully in passages where sopranos carry the melody. These choral arrangements often feature prominent soprano lines that need presence without overshadowing the harmonic foundation.
• Explore the historical context of ragtime within your rehearsals. Understanding the show's setting and the musical language of early twentieth century America will deepen your singers' interpretation.

Program this octavo when you want a substantial pop repertoire selection that demonstrates choral versatility and theatrical musicality. It works particularly well on concerts that pair classical choral literature with contemporary works, showing audiences the range of repertoire available to skilled vocal ensembles. Consider these selections for spring concerts or programs celebrating musical theater.

• Singing syncopated rhythms with accuracy and style
• Articulating Broadway text with clarity and dramatic intent
• Balancing four-part harmony while maintaining melodic independence
• Interpreting historical musical idioms within a contemporary theatrical context