What'll I Do: TTBB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement unlocks what makes this Berlin standard so compelling: it sits naturally for male voices without sacrificing the song's emotional depth or harmonic sophistication. The flexibility in voicing (TB/TTB/TBB/TTBB) means it works whether your ensemble is three voices or four, and the a cappella setting strips away any crutches, forcing singers to own the phrasing and tuning that make Berlin's melody sing.

A tender, slightly melancholic reflection on absence and waiting. The melody has the directness of speech, intimate and confessional, while the harmonies add layers of longing that deepen with each phrase. There's nothing flashy here, just the particular ache of a song that has comforted singers and audiences for a century.

Male choirs and mixed ensembles with strong enough fundamentals to manage a cappella singing and the expressive flexibility this standard demands. Arrange it for concert programs, jazz choir repertoire, or any setting where American songbook material strengthens your identity as an ensemble.

• Treat the melody as a conversation, not a recitation. Berlin's phrasing follows speech patterns, so let rubato and lyrical breathing shape the line rather than locking into strict time.
• Balance inner parts carefully during sustained chords. The beauty of this song lives in how the harmonic colors develop, which means each voice layer needs to be heard without one drowning out others.
• Anchor the emotional arc in the verse, not just the chorus. Many singers rush to the melodic hook and miss the storytelling that happens before it arrives.

Pair it with other standards from the same era to create a concert section celebrating American song, or feature it as a sophisticated palate cleanser between more energetic pieces. Its seven pages and a cappella format make it manageable even for ensembles juggling multiple repertoire demands.

• Legit phrasing and breath management without accompaniment support
• Listening for blend and intonation in sustained harmonic progressions
• Interpreting lyrical content to inform musical choices
• Managing different voicing configurations depending on ensemble size