Roar (arr. Theo Janssen): SAB Choral Octavo

Theo Janssen's arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while making it genuinely singable across three parts. The octavo lies well for mixed voices and gives students a contemporary pop song with real musical substance, not just a novelty piece. Your singers will want to rehearse this one.

Bold and purposeful. The arrangement channels the original's confident, almost defiant energy while the three-part texture keeps things intimate enough that individual singers feel heard. This is music that invites commitment and enthusiasm from your ensemble.

This arrangement works for developing choirs that want contemporary material with accessible but not simplistic voicing. It suits middle school through early high school singers and programs looking to program pop repertoire without sacrificing musicianship.

• Balance the layered vocal lines so the lead melody reads clearly over the harmonic texture; avoid letting the upper parts overwhelm the foundational line.
• Lock the groove early in rehearsal by establishing the rhythmic pocket before worrying about blend or vowels.
• Let the climactic moments build naturally without forcing dynamics; trust that the arrangement's harmonic shifts will create lift on their own.
• Shape the sustained notes with gentle crescendos and decrescendos to maintain energy across longer musical phrases.

Consider this for a pop or contemporary-music focused concert where you want a piece that connects with student singers and audiences alike. It pairs well in a mixed-genre program with other modern hits, or it can anchor a concert exploring how today's songwriting translates to choral voicing. The familiarity of the original makes it excellent for spring concerts or community engagement events where you want strong audience connection.

• Managing rhythmic precision in syncopated pop figures
• Balancing independent melodic lines within a three-part texture
• Sustaining engagement through repetitive harmonic structures
• Connecting lyrics to emotional intention without oversinging