Skinny Love (arr. Patrick Huber): SSAA Choral Octavo

Patrick Huber's arrangement respects the song's emotional core while giving SSAA choirs a chance to explore sophisticated harmony and blend in a piece that feels immediate rather than distant. The 97 pages suggest substantial material that rewards both rehearsal time and performance; this isn't a filler piece but a genuine centerpiece for contemporary choral programming.

Sparse and tender, with moments of vulnerability punctuated by richer harmonic support. The arrangement allows the lyrical content to stay at the forefront while the choir creates a warm, enveloping harmonic landscape.

Choirs at the intermediate to advanced level who want contemporary repertoire with emotional authenticity. This works equally well for secular concert choirs and ensembles seeking accessible but sophisticated arrangements of current artists.

• Attend to vowel consistency across the soprano sections, particularly in sustained passages where the tessitura exposes any drift in tone color.
• Let the accompaniment breathe during intimate moments; resist the urge to over-project the vocal lines when the arrangement creates space.
• Shape the harmonic movement by listening vertically rather than horizontally; Huber's voicings often contain unexpected sonorities that deserve clarity.

This pairs naturally with a concert exploring contemporary songwriting through the lens of choral arrangement, or as a poignant standalone moment in a mixed program. Consider it for spring concerts where audiences respond to understated emotional storytelling.

• Blending sustained notes across multiple soprano lines
• Intonation in sparse harmonic textures where each note is exposed
• Phrasing that prioritizes text clarity without sacrificing legit singing
• Balance between ensemble and accompaniment
• Interpreting contemporary music notation and harmonic language