Rather Be (arr. Frank de Vreeze): SSAATB Choral Octavo

Frank de Vreeze's arrangement captures everything that made the original compelling while opening it up for mixed voice ensembles. The writing sits comfortably across six parts, allowing singers to experience the lush harmonic possibilities of the track without requiring vocal gymnastics. It's a song your choir will actually want to sing, and audiences will absolutely recognize it.

Bright and optimistic, with the kind of infectious melody that sits in your head for days. The arrangement maintains the original's lightness and joy while adding depth through its six-part writing, creating moments of real harmonic richness that elevate what might otherwise be a simple pop song.

Choirs seeking contemporary pop arrangements that sound sophisticated without requiring extreme vocal ranges or unusual techniques. This works well for high school, community, and collegiate ensembles looking to program something current that still feels singable.

• Balance the soprano line as the primary melodic voice, especially during the hook, but resist letting it overshadow the harmonic foundation built by the lower voices.
• The electronic pulse of the original lives in the rhythmic precision of your ensemble. Invest rehearsal time in locking together on syncopated figures so the arrangement breathes with the same energy as the recorded version.
• Tune the sustained chords with care. This arrangement relies on vertical sonorities, and small intonation adjustments make a noticeable difference in how polished the section sounds.
• Use the recorded version as a reference for phrasing and tempo, but allow your singers to inhabit the emotional arc rather than simply matching inflection.

Position this on a spring or end-of-year concert to celebrate the lighter side of your choir's capabilities. It pairs well alongside other contemporary pop or musical theater selections, or it can anchor a set exploring how classical compositional techniques show up in modern music production.

• Balancing multiple melodic lines in contemporary harmonic contexts
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated pop arrangements
• Tuning extended chords and sustained vertical sonorities
• Interpreting modern vocal production techniques (phrasing, breath placement, articulation)
• Singing with stylistic awareness across six-part divisi writing