Ragtime (Choral Selections): SAB Choral Octavo

This collection captures the infectious energy and theatrical sweep of Ragtime without requiring your choir to learn an entire show. Jeff Funk's arrangement respects Flaherty's original intentions while scaling the voicing smartly for SAB groups, letting you program genuine Broadway excitement at an achievable difficulty level.

Energetic and propulsive, with the swagger of early 1900s ragtime informing modern musical theater songwriting. The arrangements sparkle with rhythmic vitality while maintaining the emotional core that makes Ragtime's storytelling land so powerfully.

Choirs seeking contemporary Broadway material that combines accessible voicing with genuine theatrical sophistication. This works well for high school and community choirs ready to perform music beyond pop arrangements but wanting to avoid the rehearsal demands of a full musical production.

• Lean into the rhythmic propulsion of the arrangements. Flaherty's melodies sit atop driving accompaniment patterns that need clarity and forward motion; the recorded accompaniment will anchor this, but your singers should feel the pulse internally.
• Balance the show tunes' theatrical style with precision. These songs expect character and personality, not operatic formality, but sloppy ensemble work will read as amateurish rather than charming.
• Pay attention to the lyrical content and historical context of each selection. Understanding what Ragtime communicates about its era will deepen your singers' connection to the material and improve phrasing choices.

These selections function beautifully as a complete concert set, allowing you to program a cohesive medley of material that showcases one show's musical landscape. Alternatively, pull individual songs to anchor a Broadway-focused concert or to fill a slot where you want contemporary theatrical energy with strong compositional substance.

• Rhythmic independence and precision within syncopated accompaniment patterns
• Phrasing in contemporary musical theater style
• Three-part SAB voicing balance and blend
• Historical and dramatic context for song interpretation