The Square Root of Possible: SATB Choral Octavo

Alan Billingsley's arrangement strikes an ideal balance between accessibility and sophistication, giving every voice part something meaningful to sing without requiring virtuosic technique. The contemporary sound and non-holiday-specific lyrics mean you're investing in a piece that works just as well in spring concerts or graduation ceremonies as it does during the winter season.

The piece radiates optimism and determination. You'll hear bright, forward-moving melodic lines layered over a propulsive rhythmic foundation that keeps momentum building throughout. It's the musical equivalent of a motivational speech set to an irresistible beat.

This octavo works for mixed choirs at the high school and adult levels, as well as college and community groups looking for contemporary material with mass appeal. The three voicing options mean a smaller or developing ensemble can still perform it successfully.

• Lean into the rhythmic precision of the accompaniment (whether piano or SoundTrax) to lock the group's sense of groove; the modern pop sensibility demands confident, crisp articulation rather than legit choir tone.
• Shape the narrative arc across all three voicings so audiences hear progression and building confidence, not three separate arrangements.
• If using the SoundPax orchestration, balance choir blend against the fuller instrumentation by ensuring solid intonation and unified vowel shapes on the sustained passages.

Deploy this as your concert opener to establish energy and audience engagement, or save it as a rousing finale that leaves listeners energized on their way out. Its theatrical confidence and contemporary sound also make it an excellent showcase piece for recruitment events or demonstration concerts.

• Maintaining rhythmic precision in contemporary pop idioms
• Blending in a mixed ensemble while preserving individual voice clarity
• Performing with stylistic consistency across multiple vocal arrangements
• Balancing choir sound against modern accompaniment textures