The Sound Of Music (Choral Highlights) (arr. John Leavitt): SAB Choral Octavo

John Leavitt's arrangement captures the warmth and accessibility of Rodgers and Hammerstein's writing while respecting the vocal ranges and blend challenges of a three-part mixed ensemble. This collection gives SAB choirs a legitimate entry point into musical theater repertoire without sacrificing the sophistication that makes these songs endure. Expect strong audience connection, singer engagement, and the kind of material that builds a choir's confidence and repertoire simultaneously.

Warm, singable, and deeply human. These arrangements invite your singers into a world of Austrian gardens, family bonds, and the kind of hope that Rodgers and Hammerstein made their signature. The music feels intimate even in ensemble sections, encouraging singers to invest emotionally in every phrase.

SAB choirs seeking substantial Broadway material that works for middle school through community adult levels. Directors building a musical theater unit or wanting to program a pops concert with genuine theatrical weight. Singers who respond to melody and storytelling will find immediate connection to this music.

• Balance the three parts so the melody remains audible while supporting lines sustain their independence. Leavitt's arrangement distributes melodic material strategically, so rehearse all sections to understand when they're carrying the main line.
• Lean into the legit singing style these songs demand. Rodgers wrote for singers who could sustain vowels and shape phrases across longer arcs than pop music typically requires. Encourage your singers to think in musical phrases, not measure-to-measure.
• Use the text as your guide for dynamics and expression. Hammerstein's lyrics sit naturally with the melody when singers understand what they're singing about. The words often suggest exactly where to breathe, when to press forward, and where to settle.
• Attend to the tempo markings and rhythmic integrity throughout. These songs can drift if the ensemble doesn't lock the fundamental pulse, particularly in ensemble passages where all three parts move together.

Build a full Broadway medley concert around this collection, or extract individual selections for a spring pops program. The 23 pages give you substantial material for a feature spot without requiring an entire evening's repertoire. Consider programming these pieces in the second half of a concert after more challenging art song or classical material, where audience and singers alike can relax into the storytelling.

• Legit vocal technique (sustained vowels, phrase shape, breath support)
• Reading and balancing independent three-part voicing
• Theatrical interpretation and emotional expression through text
• Musical theater style and performance conventions
• Ensemble blend in homophonic and transitional passages