The Music of M-G-M (A Choral Medley): Choral Octavo Orchestration

Gilpin and Schmutte understand the power of narrative through music; this medley doesn't just string together Hollywood's greatest hits, it builds momentum and delivers genuine entertainment value that keeps audiences engaged from start to finish. The orchestration is sophisticated enough to feel like a production without overwhelming your singers, and the recorded accompaniment option means you can perform this at concert quality regardless of your ensemble's instrumental resources. High school and show choirs especially benefit from arrangements like this one that feel theatrical and professional while remaining achievable in rehearsal.

You're transported into the golden age of cinema, where melodic generosity and orchestral lushness meet contemporary choral arranging craft. The medley format creates momentum and theatrical energy while individual songs breathe with their own character, and the full orchestration makes even modest ensembles sound like they're performing at a major motion picture premiere.

High school choirs and show choirs who want to program something that feels polished and entertaining without compromising musical substance. Singers benefit from the variety of styles within the medley, and the orchestration gives them the experience of performing with full instrumental support. This is ideal for groups comfortable with contemporary arranging and eager to engage audiences with familiar, beloved material.

• Balance the vocals across your sections early in rehearsal; the medley format means quick transitions between songs require singers to lock in their blend without extensive warm-up between movements.
• If using live instrumental accompaniment, schedule a full run-through with the orchestra well before performance so your singers can adjust to real tempo flexibility and dynamic response from musicians rather than relying solely on the recorded track.
• Layer in staging and movement during mid-rehearsal rather than waiting until tech week; this medley's entertainment value multiplies when singers inhabit the material, and early blocking rehearsals help solidify musicality.
• Pay attention to key and register shifts between songs; some singers may strain during transitions if you don't explicitly rehearse the specific passages where the vocal range jumps or the mood changes.

Close a concert with this medley to send your audience out energized and smiling; its entertainment value and polish make it a natural finale. Alternatively, program it as the centerpiece of a movie-themed concert where you can build context around Hollywood's influence on American musical theater. Show choirs will find it particularly valuable for competitions or spring performances where visual staging and recorded accompaniment are allowed.

• Stylistic flexibility across multiple song genres within a single piece
• Singing through key modulations and register shifts
• Coordinating movement and staging while maintaining vocal precision
• Blending vocals with full orchestral texture
• Responding to both recorded accompaniment and live instrumental direction