What Is This Thing Called Love?: SATB Choral Octavo

Monica Pabelonio's arrangement captures the sophistication that makes this song endure in jazz circles while keeping the four-part writing transparent and singable. Advanced choirs will appreciate how the voicing moves beyond basic SATB conventions without becoming unwieldy, and audiences recognize the tune immediately, making this a program winner that sounds more ambitious than it is to learn.

Suave and introspective, with the elegant melancholy that Porter brings to his best ballads. The a cappella texture creates intimacy, allowing the richness of the harmonic language to emerge while the familiar melody keeps everything grounded and warm.

Advanced SATB choirs with solid intonation and the ability to maintain balance without instrumental support. This works equally well for jazz-focused ensembles and traditional choral programs looking to expand their Great American Songbook repertoire.

• Study the recording history of this standard before rehearsing. Hearing how Billie Holiday phrased the melody or how Ella shaped the ends of phrases will inform your ensemble's interpretation choices.
• A cappella balance demands disciplined blend in the inner voices. Soprano and alto lines often carry the harmonic color, so resist the urge to let them overpower the tenor and bass foundation.
• This tune swings. Allow your singers to feel the underlying jazz groove even without accompaniment, especially where the rhythm section would typically lock into a pocket.

Pair this with other jazz standards or Great American Songbook selections to build a thematic concert program that explores how these timeless songs live across different vocal styles. It also works beautifully as a contrast piece in a mixed classical-pops concert, giving audiences a moment of sophisticated, swinging respite.

• Singing a cappella with secure intonation across a full range of harmonic movement
• Balancing multiple melodic and harmonic lines without instrumental reference
• Interpreting jazz phrasing and rhythmic nuance in an arranged setting
• Understanding how sophisticated harmony supports and enhances a memorable melody