Say What You Want (arr. Richard Salt): SSAATB Choral Octavo

Richard Salt's arrangement captures the infectious energy of the original while building in the kind of textural depth that makes a pop song genuinely rewarding to teach. The SSAA voicing sits comfortably for mixed or all-female choirs, and the six-page length keeps rehearsal demands reasonable while delivering the kind of contemporary sound that audiences recognize and enjoy hearing from your singers.

Direct, confident, and surprisingly fun to sing. The arrangement brings the accessibility of the pop original into the choral setting without stripping away the personality that made the song worth arranging in the first place. Your singers will enjoy the modern sound while you appreciate the solid musical writing underneath.

Choirs seeking contemporary repertoire that doesn't require a massive ensemble. This works equally well for high school choirs, community groups, or college singers wanting to expand beyond traditional classical material with something their audiences will recognize.

• Lock the rhythmic precision early in rehearsals. The pop style demands tight ensemble timing, especially in sections where multiple parts move together.
• Balance the lead vocal line against the harmonic support. Even when multiple singers carry the melody, keep one voice slightly forward so the song's emotional arc reads clearly.
• Shape the dynamic arch across the full form. This arrangement likely relies on contrasts between verses and choruses, so use dynamics to build momentum rather than staying at one volume throughout.
• Pay attention to articulation markings that distinguish rhythmic and legit passages. Pop arranging often mixes styles, and clarity here prevents the piece from losing its character in performance.

Include this on a concert that mixes classical and contemporary works, or build an entire set around pop and rock arrangements from this era. It also pairs nicely with other new wave influenced pieces if you're curating a themed program around 1980s alternative music.

• Singing with rhythmic precision in a contemporary pop style
• Managing multiple melodic and harmonic layers in close harmony
• Balancing solo and ensemble textures within a single piece
• Interpreting dynamic and articulation markings in non-classical context