That's What Love Is For: SAB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement opens this beloved Grant composition to younger or developing choirs without sacrificing the emotional core that makes the original so compelling. The SAB voicing sits comfortably for mixed ensembles while maintaining genuine harmonic interest, and the pop sensibility keeps singers engaged with material that feels contemporary and relevant.

Warm and affirming, this piece wraps listeners in a moment of intimate recognition. The arrangement glows with accessible harmonies that feel both straightforward and genuinely moving, capturing what makes Amy Grant's songwriting so durable.

This arrangement works beautifully for middle school and high school choirs seeking accessible pop literature with substance. It's equally suited to community ensembles and church choirs looking for contemporary material with genuine emotional authenticity.

• Lean into the lyrical quality of the melody. Even though the style is pop, avoid rushing the phrasing; let each phrase breathe naturally.
• Balance the three parts carefully during the harmonic passages. The inner voices should support without overwhelming the primary melodic line.
• Work the recorded accompaniment into rehearsals early so singers can lock onto the rhythmic pocket and understand where the arrangement sits stylistically.

Consider pairing this with other contemporary pop arrangements for a concert that speaks to singers' actual musical lives rather than distancing them from it. Its length and accessibility make it ideal as an opener or closer, and it works equally well in formal concert settings or community performances.

• Singing contemporary pop style with musicality and restraint
• Balancing three-part SAB texture with clear part independence
• Interpreting lyrics with emotional authenticity
• Responding to recorded accompaniments in rehearsal and performance