They All Laughed: Choral SoundTrax CD

Mark Hayes's arrangement captures the mischievous energy of the original without sacrificing harmonic sophistication, making it genuinely fun to perform while offering real jazz vocabulary to study. The stride piano part engages your accompanist as a full ensemble partner rather than a background support, and the orchestration sparkles with period detail that feels both authentic and fresh. Audiences consistently respond to the Gershwin-Bennett legacy; this recording gives you a contemporary touchstone they'll recognize.

Effervescent and clever, with the warmth of a 1930s nightclub and the sparkle of Art Deco design. The stride piano kicks up the energy while the harmonies maintain an almost conspiratorial charm, as though the singers are sharing an inside joke with both the accompanist and the audience.

Choirs at the high school through adult community level who want to expand beyond traditional pop and classical repertoire into the Great American Songbook. This works equally well for show choirs seeking sophisticated material with genuine wit and for community or church ensembles wanting to program something that feels both accessible and genuinely American.

• Shape the text with conversational timing rather than strict metronomic precision. The humor lands when phrases breathe naturally, especially around the clever lyrical hooks.
• Let the jazz harmonies guide your voice leading. The unexpected chord changes are intentional features, not distractions; leaning into them strengthens both intonation and musicality.
• Balance clarity of diction with the smoothness the jazz idiom demands. These lyrics deserve to land, but the overall sound should feel urbane and relaxed.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to internalize the stride piano's rhythmic energy. The bounce of that left hand drives the groove; matching its spirit lifts the entire performance.

Program this as a change-of-pace moment in a pops concert or a transition piece between heavier material in a mixed repertoire show. It pairs beautifully with other Gershwin standards or alongside contemporary interpretations of classic American songbook material, and its relatively modest vocal demands make it ideal for a mid-program energy reset.

• Jazz phrasing and swing rhythms
• Reading and performing jazz harmonies
• Text articulation for comedic timing
• Listening to and balancing with a complex piano part
• Understanding American popular song standards