Rather Be: SATB Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while giving your ensemble real musical substance to sink their teeth into. The piece respects the modern pop idiom without condescending to it, and the vocal textures create genuine interest across all four parts rather than relegating singers to background duty.

Propulsive and joyful, with the kind of infectious melodic hook that gets stuck in your head for days. The arrangement pulses with rhythmic energy while maintaining the warm, emotionally open vocal quality that made the original so appealing.

Pop and contemporary music ensembles seeking a modern arrangement that works for both concert and show choir contexts. The piece engages singers who connect with current music while offering arranging sophistication that satisfies a director's musical standards.

• Keep the rhythmic articulation crisp and unified, especially in the syllabic passages where clarity serves the text and energy of the song.
• Balance the soloistic moments with the ensemble writing; these sections should feel like natural extensions of the group rather than interruptions to it.
• Shape the dynamics to follow the emotional arc of the song rather than treating each section at an even level, building momentum toward the finale.

Slot this into a contemporary or pop-focused concert program as a centerpiece that appeals to diverse audiences, or use it as an opener to grab attention from the moment your ensemble takes the stage. The arrangement works equally well in show choir competition sets and more traditional choral concert environments.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
• Blending and balancing across SATB parts in contemporary textures
• Performing with stylistic authenticity in non-classical genres
• Sustaining energy and momentum through repetitive sections without losing musical engagement