The Rhythm Of Life (from Sweet Charity) (arr. John Leavitt): SSA Choral Octavo
The Rhythm Of Life (from Sweet Charity) (arr. John Leavitt) Sheet Music Preview

The Rhythm Of Life (from Sweet Charity) (arr. John Leavitt): SSA Choral Octavo

As performed by Cy Coleman / Arranged by John Leavitt

Item: 35-DS00360068
Digital Download
$2.99
Description

The Rhythm Of Life (from Sweet Charity) (arr. John Leavitt): SSA Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 11
SKU: 35-DS00360068

More about this title

About the Artist: Cy Coleman

Cy Coleman (1929-2004) composed music for stage and screen with a gift for infectious melodies and sophisticated harmonic language. His Broadway scores, including Sweet Charity, Barnum, and On the Twentieth Century, earned him Tony nominations and a lasting place in American musical theater. Coleman's ability to write music that satisfied both popular audiences and serious musicians made him one of the most performed composers in contemporary choral and instrumental repertoire.

Why we love this

John Leavitt's arrangement captures the joyful energy and rhythmic propulsion of Coleman's original while giving SSA choirs a genuine showstopper. The piece swings without demanding extensive jazz training, and the vocal writing sits naturally for high school and community ensembles. Programming this brings immediate audience recognition and genuine fun to your concert.

What to expect

Pure theatrical joy delivered with rhythmic precision. The piece bounces with optimism while maintaining the sophisticated musicality expected of a Cy Coleman composition. Audiences will recognize the spirit immediately, and singers will find themselves grinning through the performance.

Who it's for

High school and community choirs looking for repertoire that engages both singers and audiences. This works equally well for groups exploring Broadway material, building confidence in contemporary styles, or simply needing a feel-good closer for a spring concert.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the eighth-note pulse buoyant and forward. The groove lives in the subdivision, not the downbeat.
  • Balance the parts so the soprano line sings through without drowning out the harmonic colors underneath. Leavitt's arrangement deserves to be heard in full.
  • Shape phrases with the lyrical content rather than the bar line. These are musical thoughts with living momentum, not metronomic exercises.
  • If using the optional accompaniment, ensure the rhythm section locks the tempo early in rehearsal so singers can settle into the pocket.

How to use it

Place this as an act finale or concert closer where its infectious energy sends the audience out smiling. It pairs naturally with other Broadway selections or lighter contemporary works, and it balances heavier concert repertoire perfectly. The 11-page length keeps rehearsal time manageable while delivering maximum impact.

Skills your students will build

  • Rhythmic accuracy in syncopated figures and swing eighth-notes
  • Sustaining a groove while managing independent voice lines
  • Lyrical phrasing within an uptempo, dance-inflected style
  • Blend and balance in contemporary harmonic language

You May Also Like