They All Laughed: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Mark Hayes's arrangement captures the wit and elegance of this Gershwin standard while keeping the harmonic sophistication that makes the original so rewarding. The SoundTrax accompaniment frees your singers to focus on style and ensemble blend rather than tracking a piano part, and the piece sits comfortably in a secular program or as an uplifting closer.

Buoyant and clever, with the kind of melodic generosity and harmonic sparkle that made Gershwin famous. The piece carries warmth and humor in equal measure, inviting singers and audiences alike into a moment of pure musical joy.

High school and college choral programs, show choirs, and secular concert ensembles seeking accessible Great American Songbook repertoire with real musical substance. Directors who want their singers to explore jazz-influenced harmony and style without the risk of getting lost in a complex vocal score will find this arrangement ideal.

• Treat the lyric phrasing as conversational rather than legit-classical; Gershwin's humor lives in the rhythm and placement of words, not in sustained beauty.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock the groove early in rehearsal, then have singers internalize the pulse so they're not locked to the track during performance.
• Balance homophonic and divisi passages carefully; Hayes likely uses part-writing to create harmonic color, so articulate which voice carries the primary line in each section.
• Pay attention to jazz articulations and note lengths; this style demands crisp cutoffs and rhythmic precision to land the comedy and sophistication.

Program this as a palate-cleanser between more serious works, or use it to open a secular concert and set an uplifting tone. It also works well in a jazz or standards-themed set where you're showcasing American songwriting alongside other classic repertoire from the era.

• Jazz phrasing and rhythmic articulation in a pop-choral context
• Harmonic awareness through Gershwin-style changes
• Diction and comedic timing with an accompanied ensemble piece
• Blend and balance in mixed-voice writing with divisi sections