The Lady Is a Tramp: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the wit and sass of this Rodgers and Hart classic while honoring the contemporary energy that Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett brought to their recent version. The choral writing sits comfortably for mixed voices, the rhythmic drive keeps singers engaged, and the recorded accompaniment lets you rehearse with confidence from day one.

Brash, confident, and unapologetically fun. The melody bounces with attitude while the harmonies keep things sophisticated underneath. It's the sound of someone walking into a room knowing exactly who they are.

Choirs that want contemporary pop repertoire with serious harmonic color and a known concert draw. This arrangement works for high school, college, and community choirs comfortable with swing-influenced rhythmic vocabulary and contemporary vocal styling.

• Shape the lyrical phrases with the precision of a jazz vocalist; this song thrives on conversational phrasing rather than classical legit singing.
• Lock the rhythmic precision of the sections before worrying about dynamics; the groove is the foundation everything else sits on.
• Balance the solo lines clearly against the harmonic background so the attitude and character of the text come through without being swallowed.
• Use the SoundTrax CD to establish the tempo and feel early in rehearsal, then gradually reduce accompaniment dependence as confidence grows.

Program this as an opener or a closer on a pop/contemporary concert to establish energy and set the tone. It pairs well with other swing-influenced standards or modern pop arrangements in a set designed to showcase your choir's stylistic range and personality.

• swing rhythms and jazz articulation
• balancing solo passages with harmonic support
• stylistic interpretation of contemporary arrangements of classic standards
• rhythmic precision in syncopated vocal lines