Tell Him (Tell Her): SSA Choral Octavo

Ed Lojeski's arrangement captures the sass and warmth of this tune without oversimplifying it for young singers. The SSA voicing gives you real harmonic texture to work with, and the piece lands somewhere between novelty and genuine musicianship, which means your singers will take it seriously even as they're having fun.

Playful and flirtatious, with an undercurrent of genuine warmth. The piece bounces along with attitude but never winks at the audience in a way that undermines the singers. There's a freedom in the phrasing that invites personality without requiring extreme vocal production.

High school and college choirs comfortable with pop and soul idioms will find this accessible and fun. It works equally well for groups that lean toward theatrical repertoire and those looking to add contemporary material without abandoning musicianship.

• Build the energy gradually through repetitions of the main idea rather than settling into a groove from the start. Save your peak for the final statement.
• Pay attention to the text rhythms, especially in the call-and-response moments. Crisp articulation on the spoken or rhythmically punchy phrases will sharpen the contrast between sections.
• Balance blend in the sustained moments against clarity in the syncopated passages. These two textures ask different things from your section.

Pair this with other pop standards or soul covers to create a concert section that shows your choir's range and contemporary chops. It also makes a smart opening number for a lighter concert or musical theater showcase, establishing tone and energy right away.

• Rhythmic clarity in syncopated pop/soul idioms
• Balancing blend with textural contrast
• Call-and-response phrasing and interaction
• Vocal color differentiation between sustained and rhythmic passages