The Scientist (arr. Ed Lojeski): SSA Choral Octavo

Ed Lojeski's SSA setting preserves the song's emotional vulnerability while keeping the voicing accessible for developing singers. The arrangement respects the original's pop sensibility without sacrificing the harmonic sophistication that makes this song resonate; your singers will connect immediately with material they already know and love.

Introspective and searching, with moments of vulnerability giving way to quiet intensity. The arrangement captures the original's bittersweet quality: there's beauty in the harmonic movement, but an underlying current of regret runs throughout.

SSA choirs of intermediate ability who want contemporary material that connects with student singers. This works equally well for pop or show choirs adding repertoire with substance and for traditional concert choirs exploring modern songwriting.

• Shape the phrases around the lyrical meaning rather than the bar lines. The melody needs room to breathe, especially in moments where the text carries emotional weight.
• Balance the upper voices carefully during sustained passages so the altos' harmonic foundation remains audible without being buried.
• Work the dynamics gradually from the softer opening sections forward. Resist the urge to jump to full volume; let the climactic moments earn their power.

Include this in spring or end-of-year concerts where emotional storytelling shapes the arc. It pairs well alongside other contemporary pop arrangements or stands alone as a featured solo choir number that showcases your singers' maturity and control.

• Sustaining tone through long phrases without crescendo
• Balancing blend in three-part harmony with independent voice leading
• Interpreting contemporary pop style within a choral context
• Emotional communication through dynamic restraint