The Impossible Dream: SATB Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes' arrangement respects the song's theatrical DNA while reshaping it for choir. The lush harmonies and flexible accompaniment options (piano or full orchestration) make this accessible for programs at different resource levels, yet the writing never feels compromised. It's the rare arrangement that feels both singable and genuinely moving.

Inspirational without sentimentality, grand without bombast. The piece builds on a foundation of hope and determination, with harmonies that swell organically. There's a theatrical quality woven throughout, honoring the song's origins while creating something that feels fresh in a choral context.

SATB choirs with intermediate to advanced sight-reading skills and the vocal maturity to sustain lyrical lines. This arrangement works for high school and college ensembles, community choirs, and professional groups seeking accessible yet substantial repertoire.

• Balance the melody across your section heads rather than concentrating it in sopranos alone; the warmth of this song emerges when all voices feel its emotional weight
• If you're working with piano accompaniment, ensure your pianist shapes the harmony with rubato in the phrase endings to match the choir's breath and emotional arc
• Rehearse the harmonic transitions carefully in parts; Hayes' voice leading is sophisticated and rewards singers who understand the function of each chord

Program this as an emotional centerpiece in a set of uplifting secular works, or use it as a finale that leaves audiences with something they'll remember. It pairs well with both contemporary and classical programming and works equally well in concert or musical theater contexts.

• Sustaining long lyrical phrases with consistent tone
• Reading and executing sophisticated four-part harmony
• Blending voices across SATB texture while maintaining individual line clarity
• Interpreting dynamic shape and emotional arc in Broadway-derived material