Rewrite The Stars (arr. Roger Emerson): SSA Choral Octavo

Roger Emerson's SSA voicing unlocks this contemporary duet for choir without sacrificing the song's romantic tension and soaring melodic sweep. The arrangement captures what makes the original so singable: accessible ranges, clear harmonic support, and moments where your singers can shine individually before blending into lush ensemble textures.

A song about possibility and defiance wrapped in a contemporary pop sensibility. The melody carries both vulnerability and determination; your singers will feel the emotional stakes of the lyrics even as they're enjoying the accessibility of the part writing.

Secondary choirs seeking repertoire that engages students in contemporary songwriting while staying true to solid choral writing. This works equally well for concert programming, jazz or show choir contexts, or as an accessible entry point for mixed vocal ensembles transitioning into more complex textures.

• Balance the two melodic lines carefully during solo sections; neither voice should dominate, even when one sits higher. This maintains the song's back-and-forth dialogue.
• Find the breath points that feel natural to your singers rather than forcing every phrase to the end. Pasek's lyrics reward generous phrasing.
• Let the accompaniment establish the song's contemporary feel early; your choir will lock in more securely if the groove is clear from measure one.
• Mark the dynamic shifts between intimate verses and fuller, soaring choruses so transitions land with intention rather than slipping into one dynamic throughout.

Pair this with other film or musical theater selections to create a thematic concert, or program it in early spring when singers have built enough technical confidence to handle contemporary style authentically. It's equally at home in a shorter, standalone showcase of contemporary choral music.

• Sustaining lyrical lines with contemporary phrasing
• Balancing blend and independence in SSA homophonic texture
• Shaping dynamics within phrases rather than by measure
• Articulating rhythmic precision in pop-influenced accompaniment patterns