Try to Remember: SSA Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures what makes this song enduring: it opens with pure vocal warmth, then shifts into a gentle jazz waltz that keeps performers engaged without overwhelming them. The flexibility to perform with groups of any size means you're not locked into specific ensemble constraints, making this a reliable choice whether you're working with a small women's group or a larger mixed choir.

This is a song of tender nostalgia and gentle introspection. The opening floats with simplicity and warmth, inviting the listener into intimate memory. When the waltz enters, the piece gains a subtle sophistication that suggests romance without demanding drama.

Women's choirs and treble ensembles at any skill level will find this arrangement accessible and rewarding. It also works for mixed groups performing it as a feature or encore, particularly when programming Broadway repertoire alongside classical or contemporary pieces.

• Shape the opening statement generously. Let the straightforward melody breathe and establish emotional connection before the waltz section arrives.
• Balance the jazz waltz carefully so the rhythmic sophistication enhances rather than complicates the lyrical content. The accompaniment will guide your singers if they listen closely.
• Blend the upper voices in the SSA voicing so that the melody floats clearly without sounding thin or strained.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during early rehearsals to solidify the rhythmic feel of the waltz section, which differs noticeably from the opening.

Consider this for a spring concert celebrating Broadway music or for an evening devoted to twentieth century American songwriting. It pairs naturally with other Althouse arrangements or other selections from The Fantasticks, and its moderate length makes it ideal as a concert opener that sets an elegant tone.

• Contrasting musical styles within a single piece (straight melody versus jazz waltz)
• Blend and balance in SSA voicing
• Jazz phrasing and swing articulation
• Accompaniment listening and rhythmic coordination