Take Five: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's choral setting transforms a jazz masterpiece into material that works beautifully for young mixed choirs without sacrificing the cool, hip character audiences expect from this tune. The three-part writing sits naturally in the voices, and the arrangement respects Desmond's iconic melody while giving singers genuine harmonic engagement and rhythmic interest that keeps rehearsals energetic.

Cool, composed, and undeniably groovy. The melody has a breezy sophistication that feels modern even decades after its composition, and the 3-part harmony sits comfortably while maintaining enough harmonic color to feel jazz-inflected rather than pop. This is music that makes singers feel like they're performing something genuinely cool.

This arrangement serves mixed choirs at the middle school through early high school level, or any adult choir seeking accessible yet sophisticated secular repertoire. Singers who have basic sight-reading skills and some experience with jazz or contemporary styles will engage most fully with the material.

• Establish the characteristic swing feel early in rehearsal by listening to the Dave Brubeck Quartet recording together. Your singers need to internalize the laid-back groove before worrying about notes.
• Pay attention to the syncopated rhythms in the inner parts. Many students default to straight eighth notes; isolate these passages and snap or conduct them with precision so the arrangement's sophistication comes through.
• Balance the SAB voicing so the soprano line stays present but not dominant. The arranger's work shines when all three parts are audible and equally committed.
• Use the recorded accompaniment in final rehearsals and performance to build confidence. It establishes the groove and frees your singers to focus on blend and ensemble precision.

Program this as a contrast piece on a concert featuring classical or traditional repertoire, or use it as a closer for a spring or casual concert where you want to send audiences out in a relaxed, upbeat mood. It also works beautifully on multicultural or contemporary-music-focused programs, and its moderate difficulty makes it suitable for festivals or invitational performances.

• Singing jazz/swing style with appropriate articulation and rhythmic placement
• Reading and executing syncopated rhythmic figures in choral parts
• Balancing three-part SAB voicing with awareness of harmonic function
• Ensemble singing with groove-based accompaniment
• Interpreting a well-known standard in a new arrangement