They All Laughed: SSA Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes's SSA arrangement captures the sophistication and buoyancy of the original without losing sight of what makes this tune endure: the clever Ira Gershwin lyrics and those infectious Gershwin harmonies. The stride piano part gives your accompanist something genuinely musical to play, not just chordal filler, which lifts the whole performance. This is the kind of standard that works equally well as a concert showcase piece or as part of a jazz-focused program.

Effervescent and knowing. The melody bounces with optimism, the harmonies add sophisticated shimmer, and the whole thing carries the warmth of a good story told by friends. There's real affection for American popular song embedded in every bar, without a trace of nostalgia or condescension.

SSA choirs at the high school or community level who want to perform a piece that sounds current and sounds smart at the same time. This works best with singers who have some rhythmic independence and enjoy the energy of jazz-inflected harmony.

• Balance the vocal lines so the text remains clear through the jazz harmonies; even at full voice, articulation should stay crisp and conversational.
• Work with your accompanist on the stride piano texture so it has rhythmic swagger without rushing; the groove anchors everything above it.
• Lean into the syncopation and rhythmic push-pull of the melody; this piece asks singers to sit just slightly behind the beat in the jazz tradition, which creates its charm.
• Shape phrases by the lyrical content and Gershwin's harmonic motion rather than by vocal technique alone; let the wit in the lyrics guide your phrasing choices.

Pair this with other Great American Songbook standards to build a concert around midcentury musical theater and jazz standards, or use it as a centerpiece in a show that blends classical and contemporary repertoire. The Lady Gaga-Tony Bennett connection gives you an entry point for talking about how popular music evolves while timeless songs endure.

• Jazz harmony and voice leading within SSA voicing
• Rhythmic independence and jazz phrasing conventions
• Text clarity and articulation in contemporary popular styles
• Interpretation of syncopation and groove-based rhythm
• Collaboration with accompanist to balance ensemble and piano texture