The Unforgettable Nat King Cole (Medley): Choral Instrumental Pak
As performed by Natalie Cole / As performed by Nat King Cole / Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00419553
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Description
Nat King Cole received 28 Gold record awards during his amazing career as a singer, band leader, movie star and TV host. Among his hits are "Ramblin' Rose, Too Young, Mona Lisa" and of course, "Unforgettable". Kirby Shaw brings his creative style to this group of American standard songs. This is a musical heritage worthy of discovery.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00419553
More about this title
About the Artist: Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole carried forward one of popular music's most distinguished legacies. The daughter of Nat King Cole, she established herself as a formidable artist in her own right, earning multiple Grammy Awards and charting hits across soul, jazz, and pop genres. Her 1991 duet with her late father on "Unforgettable" became a defining moment in her career, introducing a new generation to her father's timeless artistry while showcasing her own vocal gifts.
Beyond her recording success, Cole became an ambassador for American songwriting standards, performing and interpreting the Great American Songbook with warmth and sophistication. Her ability to honor tradition while bringing contemporary sensibility to classic material made her an ideal interpreter of Nat King Cole's legacy.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the smooth sophistication of Cole's catalog while making these standards genuinely singable for mixed ensembles. The medley format lets you program substantial musical substance in a single piece, hitting audience recognition with songs like "Unforgettable" and "Ramblin' Rose" without the time commitment of programming them separately.
What to expect
Warm, nostalgic, and elegantly crafted. The arrangement honors the intimacy of Cole's original recordings while giving voices room to shine. There's an inherent sophistication to the harmonic language that feels grown-up without becoming precious.
Who it's for
Choirs seeking to connect with American popular song heritage without veering into novelty territory. This works for community choirs, show choirs, or concert choirs that want to include standards in their repertoire with legitimate musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the vocal lines so the melody lands clearly without the accompaniment drowning the singers. These standards rely on phrase clarity.
- Let the rubato breathe in the ballad sections. The tempo naturally ebbs and flows in classic Cole arrangements; resist the urge to lock everything metronomically.
- Shape dynamics across the entire medley as if it were a single arc rather than distinct songs. Transitions matter more than hitting each tune at uniform volume.
How to use it
Program this in a concert celebrating American songwriting or pairing it with other 20th century popular standards. It also serves as an accessible entry point for singers developing comfort with jazz-inflected harmony and phrasing, making it valuable as a teaching piece about stylistic nuance.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing and interpretation of jazz-influenced melodies
- Balancing melody against contemporary harmonic accompaniment
- Singing with legit legato in a popular music context
- Understanding the relationship between text meaning and melodic shape