Who Could Ask for Anything More?: SAB Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the swagger and sophistication of Gershwin's originals without overwhelming a three-part choir. The medley structure lets you program substantial musical substance in eight minutes, and the recorded accompaniment gives singers the security to focus on style, phrasing, and the jazz-inflected harmonies that define these songs.

This medley sparkles with the optimism and elegance of 1920s-30s New York. The Gershwin sensibility runs throughout: sophisticated yet accessible, witty yet warm, and always deeply rooted in melody. There's a buoyancy here, a sense that life and music are things to celebrate.

Choirs with solid three-part mixed voicing and singers who can handle the rhythmic precision and lyrical nuance that Gershwin demands. This works beautifully for groups seeking concert material that connects with audiences across age ranges while still offering genuine musical challenge.

• Shape the phrasing around the lyric, not the bar line. Gershwin songs breathe like speech, so practice singing through musical phrases rather than mechanically respecting rests.
• Balance the part writing carefully; upper voices carry most melodic material, but lower voices anchor the harmonies that give these arrangements their character. Blend rather than blend away.
• Work with the recorded accompaniment early so singers internalize the rhythmic pocket and style of each song. The jazz inflections and syncopations need to feel natural, not academic.
• Highlight the personality shifts between songs. Each tune has its own temperament, from the romantic warmth of one song to the upbeat celebration of another. Directors should coach singers to reset emotionally between sections.

Program this as your show-stopper on a pops or standards concert, or pair it with other American songbook material for a themed set. At eight minutes, it anchors a concert segment without monopolizing time, and the arrangement's polish and recognizability make it a reliable audience favorite.

• Singing jazz-inflected rhythms and syncopation
• Phrasing lyrical lines with conversational naturalness
• Balancing inner harmony voices while supporting the melodic line
• Executing style-appropriate articulation and dynamics across multiple song styles within a single piece
• Following recorded accompaniment with precision