Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures every ounce of the original's infectious energy while making it genuinely singable for a choral ensemble. The inclusion of movement and staging directions keeps singers engaged and gives your choir something tangible to perform beyond the notes on the page. This is one of those repertoire pieces that generates real enthusiasm from students because the fun is built right into the music.

Bouncy and irreverent, with that unmistakable New Orleans R&B swagger that makes you want to move. The arrangement swings hard, building from playful verses to a chorus that lands with real groove and infectious energy.

This arrangement works for mixed choirs at the high school and adult level seeking contemporary material with genuine entertainment value. Directors looking for rock and pop repertoire that connects with student singers and audiences without sacrificing vocal musicality will find an ideal fit here.

• Establish a tight groove from your first rehearsal. The rhythmic precision of the ensemble is what makes this arrangement swing, so lock in the pulse early and maintain it consistently.
• Reference the staging suggestions on the included "Shine!" movement DVD. Singers connect to rock and pop music through physicality, and the choreography enhances both performance quality and ensemble confidence.
• Balance clarity with cohesion when the parts split. Keep articulation crisp across all sections so the boogie-woogie feel remains infectious even during more complex passages.
• Layer the recorded accompaniment strategically in rehearsal. Use it to lock tempos and harmonic framework, but remove it periodically so singers develop independence and can feel the music together.

Program this as a showcase closer on a pop or winter concert, where it will energize an audience and send singers off stage on a high note. It pairs well on programs featuring other contemporary secular material and works equally well as a standalone novelty number or part of a rock-era medley.

• Rhythmic precision in a syncopated groove
• Ensemble blend and balance in split voicings
• Interpretation of movement and staging as performance elements
• Stylistic authenticity in rock and R&B idioms