Trying Too Hard (from Central Park) (arr. Roger Emerson): SSATB Choral Octavo

Roger Emerson's voicing opens this contemporary pop song to full choirs without losing its character or comedic spark. The arrangement respects the song's observational humor about overachievement while remaining accessible to singers at intermediate levels, making it equally valuable for concert pops programming or end-of-year shows where you need something current that won't exhaust your ensemble.

Clever and slightly self-aware, with the kind of melodic buoyancy that makes you want to hum it after rehearsal. The arrangement captures the song's affectionate mockery of perfectionism and ambition, balancing pop sensibility with harmonic color.

Intermediate to advanced choirs seeking repertoire that feels fresh and relevant without sacrificing musical substance. Directors programming for younger singers who connect with contemporary TV and film music will find this accessible and engaging for both rehearsal and performance.

• Shape the text with comedic timing rather than sustained legit singing; let the wit land in how syllables sit in the rhythm
• Balance the SSA and SSAB options depending on your roster, but commit fully to one voicing within a section to maintain blend
• Ground the harmonic backdrop in the lower voices so the top line's melodic story reads clearly to an audience

Pair this with other contemporary pop or musical theater selections to create a concert that speaks to your singers' actual listening lives. It works particularly well in spring or end-of-year shows where the tone can shift between concert standards and material that earns genuine laughs.

• Singing contemporary pop melody with theatrical inflection
• Navigating mixed voicing options (SSA and SSAB) within a single arrangement
• Balancing rhythmic precision with conversational text delivery
• Blending voices across SSA/SSAB sections for cohesive ensemble sound