Taking a Chance on Love: Choral SoundPax
Music by Vernon Duke, words by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter / arr. Darmon Meader
Item: 00-PK-0001313
$15.00
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Description
Darmon Meader takes a swinging approach to this pop/jazz standard, with a tight vocal arrangement accompanied by piano or optional jazz trio. Clever lyrics make it a real audience pleaser, and your singers will appreciate the masterly vocal writing. Vocal jazz groups: don't miss it.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Taking a Chance on Love: Choral SoundPax comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PK-0001313
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Composer: Vernon Duke
Vernon Duke (1903-1969) composed music across Broadway, film, and concert settings, bringing Russian-trained sophistication to American popular song. His theatrical works and standards remain fixtures of the Great American Songbook, prized for their harmonic richness and memorable melodic lines that reward both singers and listeners.
Why we love this
Darmon Meader's arrangement strips away nostalgia and plants this standard firmly in the present tense. The vocal writing sits beautifully in the ensemble while the swing groove keeps energy high, and the clever lyrics give your singers genuine ownership over what they're singing.
What to expect
Sophisticated and playful in equal measure. The arrangement swings with genuine jazz sensibility while the lyrics keep things light and engaging, creating a performance that feels both polished and genuinely fun.
Who it's for
Vocal jazz ensembles and pop choirs with singers who enjoy stylistic flexibility and witty material. This works equally well for auditioned groups and non-auditioned choirs seeking accessible jazz programming.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the phrasing around the lyrical content rather than pushing through on pure swing feel; the humor lands when the text clarity cuts through the groove.
- Balance the singers' articulation with the piano (or trio if performing with instruments); neither should dominate the other.
- Lean into the recorded accompaniment during rehearsals to lock the harmonic pocket before rehearsing without it.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a pops or jazz-focused concert, or pair it with other Great American Songbook standards to showcase your ensemble's stylistic range. It also works as a memorable opener that sets a conversational, energetic tone for the evening.
Skills your students will build
- Jazz articulation and swing feel in ensemble
- Stylistic interpretation of pop/jazz vocal writing
- Balancing blend with clear lyrical delivery
- Reading and performing syncopated rhythmic figures