Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) (arr. Mark Brymer): TBB Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's arrangement captures the irresistible swagger of the original while building it from the ground up for voices. The TBB voicing sits naturally in comfortable ranges, and the chart rewards clean intonation and rhythmic precision without demanding gymnastics. Your singers will connect immediately to material they know and love, which translates into engagement that carries through rehearsals and into performance.

Propulsive and infectious. The funk skeleton keeps everything moving forward with enough space for singers to breathe and feel the pocket. It's celebratory without being camp, modern without sounding dated, and energetic without exhaustion.

Choirs wanting to program contemporary pop material that feels authentic rather than diluted. Works for mixed or male-only ensembles and sits well within the range comfort zones of high school through adult singers. If your group has any rhythmic confidence and a willingness to embrace a more relaxed, groove-oriented aesthetic, this is accessible and immediately rewarding.

• Lock the bass line and kick drum placement first; everything locks into that foundation, so nail the pulse before layering upper voices.
• Keep the tone punchy rather than legit. This is conversational and rhythmic, so resist the urge to add vibrato or blend into a classical blend.
• Treat the unison or closely voiced sections as opportunities to build momentum and showcase clarity; the arrangement likely features these for dynamic impact.
• Pay attention to articulation markings around syncopated hits. Precision here sells the funk.

Pair this with other contemporary pop or funk arrangements to build a set that demonstrates range and relevance. It also works as a concert closer or homecoming performance staple, where audience recognition fuels excitement. The 13 pages suggest modest rehearsal investment relative to payoff, making it ideal for second semester when singers have solid fundamentals in place.

• Reading syncopated rhythms in a pop/funk idiom
• Maintaining a steady pocket under rhythmic independence
• Balancing precision with groove-oriented phrasing
• Singing contemporary music with stylistic accuracy
• Layering voices to create texture and momentum