Under The Boardwalk (arr. Mark Brymer): SATB Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's arrangement respects the original's laid-back groove while giving SATB singers genuine harmonic interest. The voicing sits naturally for mixed choirs without requiring soloists to carry an unfair burden, and the familiar melody ensures immediate audience engagement. This is the kind of evergreen pop standard that proves singing music from the charts doesn't mean sacrificing musicianship.

Warm nostalgia with an easy confidence. The arrangement evokes a summer night, salt air, and the particular happiness of a song so well-constructed that it feels inevitable. There's a gentle sophistication to the voicing that makes singers feel both comforted and slightly elevated.

Mixed choirs at the intermediate level who want accessible pop repertoire with real harmonic substance. High school and college ensembles will find this especially valuable for concerts seeking to connect with family audiences without abandoning musicality. Community and adult choirs often gravitate toward this title because the melody is immediately satisfying while the arrangement rewards careful preparation.

• Keep the rhythm section relaxed and slightly behind the beat to capture the original's easy swagger rather than pushing forward.
• Balance the baritone line carefully in the lower register; it often carries harmonic movement that grounds the sound.
• Let the melodic line breathe without oversinging. The Drifters' approach favors restraint and space over pushing for volume.
• Lock vowels precisely during the section harmonies to achieve the blend this arrangement requires.

Pair this with other Brymer pop arrangements to create a set that demonstrates how choral writing can honor popular music traditions. It works beautifully as an encore that leaves audiences smiling, or as the closing number of a pops concert where you want to send people home humming. Consider programming it alongside jazz standards or other rhythm and blues classics to build a themed concert exploring American popular vocal music.

• Singing with laid-back rhythmic confidence without rushing or dragging
• Balancing blend in close-voiced harmony while maintaining individual line independence
• Interpreting stylistic nuance in popular music voicings
• Ensemble listening to locked vowels and clean consonants
• Shaping longer phrases with breath control in a relaxed vocal approach