Sugar (arr. Wayne Grimmer): TTBB Choral Octavo

Wayne Grimmer's barbershop treatment of "Sugar" captures the infectious groove of the original while reframing it through the lens of close harmony and a cappella tradition. The arrangement gives singers real work to do beyond doubling the tune; locked rhythmic figures demand ensemble precision while the harmonic language stays grounded enough to feel authentic to modern ears.

Bright, propulsive, and rhythmically playful. The arrangement channels the swagger of the original recording while grounding itself in the warm, intimate sound world of male voices singing in close harmony. This is modern pop music that swings.

TTBB quartets and choruses looking to add contemporary repertoire that doesn't sacrifice musical substance. Groups comfortable with syncopated rhythms and close harmony will find this rewarding; it works equally well for a cappella ensembles or those looking to expand beyond traditional barbershop standards.

• Lock the rhythm section (bass and baritone) into a tight, syncopated pulse early in rehearsals. The groove depends on their confidence and consistency.
• Treat the leads as characters with personality rather than vessels for melody. This music thrives when singers find their individual voice within the ensemble texture.
• Emphasize the stagger of entrances and overlapping phrases typical of barbershop voicing; don't let them blur into a sustained block sound.
• Record a rehearsal mix and listen back as a group. Hearing yourselves from the audience perspective often clarifies balance issues that feel invisible in the moment.

Program this as a second-half opener or closing number on a concert mixing classic and contemporary barbershop. The familiar melody hooks the audience while the arrangement signals that your group knows how to navigate modern idioms without losing the core identity of male vocal ensemble singing.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated, groove-based contexts
• Close harmony tuning and blend across multiple parts
• Stylistic interpretation of contemporary pop through a cappella lens
• Confidence with overlapping phrase entries and staggered entrances