Shallow (from A Star Is Born) (arr. Mac Huff): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Mac Huff's arrangement captures the tender vulnerability of the film's original duet while making it accessible for developing choral singers. The 2-part writing allows wider participation across your section without compromising the emotional arc that made this song an Oscar winner. Student singers will connect immediately to material they already know, and the arrangement rewards careful attention to dynamics and phrasing.

Intimate and searching, with a gravity that builds through repetition rather than dramatic key changes. The arrangement respects the original's emotional restraint while giving singers room to invest their own interpretation into each phrase.

Choirs at the middle school, high school, or community level looking to program contemporary material with real melodic substance. This works equally well for singers with limited ensemble experience and for groups building toward more complex arrangements, since the part-writing allows singers to find secure footing quickly.

• Shape the melody through long phrase arcs rather than stopping at bar lines. This song lives in sustained, continuous lines that build emotional weight.
• Balance the two parts so neither dominates; the strength comes from the blend rather than one voice pushing forward.
• Work for clarity in diction without sacrificing legit tone. The lyrics carry real emotional content that needs to land for your audience.
• Use the recorded accompaniment as a rehearsal tool first, then gradually fade it as students internalize the harmonic foundation.

This fits naturally into a pops or contemporary music concert, but it also works as a profound choice for a spring concert closer or as a musical moment within a larger theatrical production. Consider pairing it with other modern film songs to create a thematic set that resonates with your singers' listening lives.

• Sustaining legit vocal tone through long phrases without breath
• Balancing independent parts while maintaining ensemble blend
• Interpreting contemporary musical style with emotional authenticity
• Reading smooth harmonic movement across two-part writing
• Shaping dynamic contours that serve lyrical meaning