Who Could Ask for Anything More?: SSA Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the swagger and warmth of Gershwin and Ira's compositions without sacrificing any of their harmonic color or melodic brilliance. For SSA choirs, this medley provides a chance to program sophisticated popular music that feels both celebratory and genuinely musical, and the 28-page score offers enough substance to justify rehearsal time while remaining accessible to developing ensembles.

Bright, optimistic, and rhythmically alive. These seven songs celebrate romance, ambition, and the sheer joy of music itself, and Althouse's arrangement preserves that buoyancy while adding harmonic depth that keeps singers engaged with the music's sophistication.

SSA choirs seeking a substantial pop arrangement that sits comfortably in the middle of the rehearsal calendar. Directors programming concerts that balance classical repertoire with music that audiences recognize and love will find this medley both musically rewarding and genuinely audience-engaging.

• Balance the melodic material across your trio texture; these songs were written to shine vocally, so ensure your leads are supported by well-shaped harmonies rather than buried beneath them.
• The recorded accompaniment will anchor rhythmic clarity across the medley's transitions, but rehearse a cappella sections first to build confidence in your harmonic independence.
• Approach the style with conversational ease rather than over-refinement; these songs thrive on natural phrasing and a touch of humor that mirrors the lyrical wit.
• Work the melodic shape and dynamic arc of each song individually before stitching the medley together, since each Gershwin number has its own character and dramatic trajectory.

Program this as a centerpiece of a concert celebrating American song, or use it to anchor a set of popular classics that shows your choir's range and style. The medley format allows you to feature it as a substantial single work rather than a collection of shorter pieces, and its length makes it ideal for a pre-concert warmup slot or a climactic closer.

• Singing through key changes and harmonic transitions in medley form
• Interpreting jazz-influenced rhythmic phrasing and syncopation
• Balancing melody and harmony in three-part texture
• Performing with style in popular music contexts while maintaining choral musicality