The Man I Love: SSAA Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes's arrangement captures the emotional core of this Gershwin standard while writing idiomatically for treble voices. The lush harmonies sit beautifully across four parts and give singers genuine musical substance to dig into, making it equally rewarding in a concert setting or a showcase of choral artistry.

Nostalgic and tender, with an undercurrent of longing. The harmonies are sophisticated without sounding academic, lending the song both intimacy and polish. Singers and listeners alike feel the elegance of Gershwin's original melody sustained throughout.

SSAA choirs seeking a contemporary arrangement of a timeless song. This works for treble choirs of intermediate to advanced ability, particularly those comfortable with jazz harmonies and sustained lyrical singing.

• Secure the verse as the foundation of the piece. Its storytelling quality draws listeners into the melody that follows, so shape the text with intention before the chorus arrives.
• Balance the harmony layers so the top line sings through without effort. The richness comes from blend and blend alone, not volume.
• Shape the phrase through breath, not tempo. This arrangement asks for sustained musicality across longer lines, so plan breaths that support the architecture rather than interrupt it.

This pairs beautifully with other American song standards or as a standalone feature that showcases your choral sound in a concert setting. Its 12-page length and accessible style make it ideal for winter or spring programs where you want to balance classical repertoire with familiar, beloved material.

• Balancing harmony layers in jazz-influenced chord progressions
• Sustaining lyrical lines through longer phrases with minimal breath breaks
• Interpreting text as a narrative element within an arrangement
• Blending SSAA voicing to create unified sound across four parts