What The World Needs Now Is Love (arr. Roger Emerson): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Roger Emerson's arrangement opens this iconic song to younger or developing choirs without sacrificing the harmonic sophistication that makes Bacharach's writing so musically rewarding. The 2-part voicing maintains the song's essential character while remaining accessible, meaning your students focus on singing with intention rather than struggling to decode the parts. This is exactly the kind of repertoire that reminds singers why they joined choir in the first place.

The song radiates warmth and gentle conviction, its simple message gaining strength through Bacharach's harmonically rich accompaniment. Even in 2-part form, the arrangement carries an understated sophistication that feels both timeless and contemporary, inviting singers to invest emotionally in every phrase.

This arrangement suits middle school choirs, high school beginning choirs, community choirs, and anyone seeking meaningful pop repertoire at an accessible level. Singers who've never experienced Bacharach's harmonic language will discover why his songs have endured for over 50 years.

• Shape the phrase around the lyrical message rather than the bar line. The melody's beauty emerges through legit phrasing that honors the text's emotional arc.
• Balance the two parts carefully in the chorus; Emerson likely creates harmonic texture rather than melody and accompaniment, so both voices matter equally to the sound.
• Let the arrangement breathe where it opens up. Resist the urge to lock everything rhythmically tight; this piece benefits from singers who listen to each other and adjust naturally.

Consider pairing this with other 1960s pop standards to create a program that celebrates classic songwriting, or program it as a humanistic concert closer on a mixed repertoire concert. Its optimistic message and accessibility also make it valuable for community engagement events or sing-along formats where you want to include a piece that reaches across musical backgrounds.

• Singing through jazz and extended harmonic progressions (seventh chords, altered chords)
• Lyrical phrasing in pop music contexts
• Listening for harmonic independence between the two parts
• Sustaining tone and intonation in consonant-heavy text
• Understanding the relationship between melody and harmony in mainstream songwriting