Sunday Best (arr. Mark Brymer): SATB Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's arrangement captures the infectious funkiness of the original while keeping the voicing accessible for developing choirs. The groove sits naturally in the singers' ranges, and the rhythmic clarity gives students something genuinely fun to lock into rather than simply perform.

Sunday Best glides on an easy, optimistic groove that feels like settling into something comfortable and joyful. The arrangement radiates the casual confidence of the original track while inviting singers into a rhythmic conversation that's both accessible and genuinely groovy.

Any choir looking to perform contemporary music that genuinely connects with singers and audiences alike. This works equally well for middle school choirs building confidence, high school choirs seeking a fun concert moment, or church choirs wanting to expand their repertoire beyond traditional hymns.

• Nail the rhythmic pocket early. This piece lives in the pocket, so get your rhythm section (or click track) locked before layering in the vocal parts. Precision here makes everything else fall into place.
• Let the funk breathe by resisting the urge to over-sing. The style works best when singers stay relaxed and grounded, especially in the lower voices where the groove anchors.
• Pay attention to consonant clarity in the faster passages. Funk relies on clean articulation, so have your singers practice the text rhythmically separate from pitch to build precision.
• Color the dynamics around the harmonic movement. Brymer has likely shaped phrases to highlight the most engaging moments; let those moments step forward naturally rather than maintaining a flat dynamic throughout.

This pairs beautifully in a pop or contemporary-focused concert, where it can anchor the second half and send audiences out smiling. It also works as a confidence builder early in the season when you want students to experience success with contemporary idioms before tackling more demanding repertoire.

• Funk and pop rhythmic precision (straight eighths, syncopation, groove pocket awareness)
• Contemporary vocal blend and balance in a secular context
• Stylistic articulation and dynamics in modern commercial music
• Reading and performing harmonies built on jazz and R&B chord vocabularies