Thinking Out Loud (arr. Jo Annemans): TTBarBB Choral Octavo

Jo Annemans has crafted an arrangement that lets the song's emotional core shine without oversimplifying the harmonic language. The flexibility in voicing options means this works whether you're building a four-part mixed choir or working with limited low voices. It's the kind of contemporary piece that makes students care about their parts because they recognize the melody they've heard.

Intimate and reflective, with the quality of someone sharing a private thought. The arrangement respects the original's gentle vulnerability while adding textural depth through layered voicing. There's a kind of quiet honesty here that shifts the energy in a concert program.

Choirs looking to program contemporary music that doesn't sacrifice harmonic interest or arranging craft. Directors want pieces that engage singers beyond novelty value while remaining accessible to mixed ensembles with varied reading ability. High school through adult choirs benefit most from the voicing flexibility and the emotional maturity the text requires.

• Balance the harmonic voices carefully during the verse sections; many singers gravitate toward the melody, so mark exactly who carries it at each moment.
• Record a rough run-through early in rehearsals so singers hear how their part functions within the whole arrangement.
• Keep the tempo conversational rather than rushed; Annemans' writing rewards clarity of text and phrase shape over rhythmic snap.
• Experiment with dynamic gradation across verse to chorus; this arrangement responds beautifully to subtle shifts in volume that mirror the emotional arc.

Place this in a set with other contemporary ballads to showcase how modern songwriting translates to choral literature. It works especially well in winter or spring concerts where emotional range matters. Consider pairing it with an uptempo pop arrangement to demonstrate the breadth of what contemporary music offers your ensemble.

• Reading varied harmonic voicings within pop idiom
• Maintaining independence in block harmony sections
• Balancing text clarity with sustained vocal lines
• Interpreting dynamic and interpretive nuance in contemporary music
• Navigating flexible voicing structures (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB)