What The World Needs Now Is Love: Choral Instrumental Pak

Roger Emerson's arrangement captures the essence of this beloved standard while giving it fresh life through structural variety. The interplay between the jazz waltz sections and the grooving 4/4 passages keeps audiences engaged, and that soprano sax entrance is an immediate attention-grabber that signals this won't be your typical choral fare. It's a concert closer that actually closes something meaningful rather than just ending the show.

The opening is wistful and searching, drawing listeners into an intimate moment before the groove kicks in. There's an inherent optimism in how the arrangement moves between its sections, building momentum while maintaining the song's core message of connection and hope. The final push toward "for everyone" feels both earned and uplifting.

This arrangement works beautifully for choirs seeking repertoire that bridges classical concert traditions and contemporary accessibility. It's ideal for groups comfortable with jazz inflection and rhythmic flexibility, and it appeals to audiences who may not often attend choral performances.

• Balance the soprano sax opening so it cuts through but doesn't overshadow the intimacy of that first vocal section. This moment sets the emotional tone for everything that follows.
• Anchor the meter changes by having your rhythm section lock in during the transition from waltz to 4/4. Crisp ensemble attacks will help singers navigate what could otherwise feel awkward.
• Build the final "for everyone" section gradually; resist the urge to jump to full energy immediately. Let the lyric's sentiment grow organically out of the music.

Close your spring concert or end-of-year celebration with this piece. Its accessibility and positive message create a memorable final impression, and the stylistic shift from typical concert fare often generates genuine enthusiasm from both singers and audience. You might also consider it as a showstopper at pops concerts or community events where a contemporary sensibility serves the program better than traditional standards.

• Navigating meter changes between 3/4 (jazz waltz) and 4/4 grooves
• Responding to jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
• Ensemble balance with featured instrumental soloists
• Rhythmic independence when accompaniment patterns shift
• Stylistic contrast and dynamic control across distinct sections