That Dixieland Sound (When the Saints Go Marching In): 3-Part (any combination) Choral Octavo

Besig and Price recognize what every director knows: a flexible 3-part voicing opens repertoire to any ensemble at any moment in the year. The partner song structure gives you built-in variety without needing separate pieces, and the 'New Orleans' style taps into a sound students genuinely enjoy singing. This is the kind of accessible, singable writing that gets real results in rehearsal.

Spirited and celebratory, with the infectious energy of a jazz funeral second line. The partner song structure creates layers of musical conversation that feel both playful and purposeful, inviting the audience to tap their feet.

Middle school through high school choirs looking for a crowd-pleasing secular piece that works with flexible voicing. Any ensemble that can field three parts, regardless of gender balance, will find this accessible and fun to perform.

• Capture the rhythmic swagger of the New Orleans tradition by keeping the accompaniment lively and punchy; let the groove breathe naturally rather than rushing it.
• Balance the three parts so that the melody line stays in focus while the partner songs weave around it; resist the urge to blend everything into an undifferentiated mass.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the style and energy level, then rehearse enough times a cappella so your singers develop confident independence from the track.

Program this as a spring or holiday concert closer when you want to end on high spirits and audience engagement. It pairs well alongside other jazz or popular-style arrangements, or stands alone as a refreshing contrast to more serious repertoire on a mixed program.

• Singing partner songs and layered melodies
• Maintaining rhythmic independence in a swing or jazz style
• Balancing multiple melodic lines in a 3-part texture
• Flexible voicing and part reassignment