Taking a Chance on Love: SATB Choral Octavo
Music by Vernon Duke / arr. Kirby Shaw / Words by John La Touche and Ted Fetter
Item: 00-PO-0006989
$1.40
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A classic jazz standard in a classic Kirby Shaw arrangement! The snappy rhythms, tasty contrapuntal writing, and clever lyrics keep things interesting but always accessible. Perform with the included piano accompaniment or the swingin' SoundPax featuring trumpets, saxophone, trombone, and rhythm section. Vocal jazz singing at its best!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006989
More about this title
About the Composer: Vernon Duke
Vernon Duke (1903-1969) was a Russian-American composer who bridged classical training and popular song with remarkable fluency. He studied under Glazunov and Myaskovsky in the Soviet Union before emigrating to the United States, where he became a prolific Broadway and Hollywood composer known for sophisticated harmonies and memorable melodies that elevated the popular song form.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement preserves the wit and swing of Duke's original while making it entirely singable for mixed ensembles. The contrapuntal moments feel organic rather than showy, and the included SoundPax option with a full jazz band gives your singers a professional-sounding alternative to piano, which opens up performance possibilities beyond a typical choral concert.
What to expect
Buoyant and clever, with the kind of rhythmic snap that makes an audience sit up and pay attention. The harmonies are warm and occasionally surprising, and the overall effect balances playfulness with genuine musicianship.
Who it's for
Mixed choral ensembles (especially those comfortable with jazz idioms or pop-influenced styles) looking for an entertaining, sophisticated treatment of a beloved standard. This works equally well for high school choirs with strong sightreading skills and community or collegiate groups seeking accessible vocal jazz repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the swing feel early in rehearsal by having the rhythm section or an accompaniment recording demonstrate the groove; this standard lives or dies on rhythmic pocket, not perfect note accuracy.
- Balance the parts during contrapuntal passages so that layered melodic lines remain distinct; resist the urge to pile on volume and instead use lighter tone quality and clear articulation.
- Pay attention to lyrical phrasing in the solos or featured moments; this is a song about taking emotional risks, so encourage singers to connect the text to genuine expression rather than just executing the rhythms.
How to use it
Program this alongside other jazz standards or pop-influenced choral arrangements to create a cohesive set that showcases your ensemble's stylistic range. It also works beautifully as a lighter contrast piece in a concert that includes more classical or contemporary choral works, giving your audience a chance to hear your singers in a more conversational, swinging idiom.
Skills your students will build
- Swing rhythm and jazz articulation (eighth-note interpretation, syncopation)
- Part independence in contrapuntal writing
- Text expression in vernacular song style
- Blend and balance in rhythmically complex ensemble writing