Who You Gonna Take?: Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by M Bumbach
Item: 35-PK00377863
$30.00
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Description
Your women's choir will enjoy the playful text, upbeat clapping, and the brilliant sound of an authentic Bluegrass band in this song by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. An ideal concert change-of-pace or encore, this arrangement is flexible in terms of instrumentation.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00377863
More about this title
Why we love this
Bumbach captures the infectious energy of the original while building in genuine bluegrass textures that feel earned rather than forced. The flexible instrumentation means you can realize this with whatever acoustic players you have on hand, whether that's a full band or a creative subset. It's the kind of arrangement that lands equally well as a concert closer or a surprise encore because the chart itself does the heavy lifting.
What to expect
Bright and conversational, with the rollicking charm of a bluegrass jam session that happens to include women's voices. The arrangement sparkles with clapping and acoustic textures that feel both polished and genuinely playful. It's the sonic equivalent of a wink from the stage, executed with real musicianship.
Who it's for
Women's choirs looking for contemporary material with genuine personality and strong singable lines. This works for groups with access to acoustic bluegrass instrumentation or players comfortable learning those textures. It suits concert programs that need a moment of relief and fun without sacrificing musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the clapping sections as ensemble moments. They need to land with real rhythmic conviction, not sound apologetic or thin. Your singers should own this as a percussive event.
- Work with your bluegrass players on the characteristic rhythmic pocket of the genre. Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's original has a specific swagger; the arrangement preserves it, but it requires players who understand how to sit in that groove.
- Balance vocal clarity against the acoustic instrumentation. These instruments can disappear or dominate quickly depending on mic levels and rehearsal priorities. Front the text without burying the band.
- Let the arrangement breathe during instrumental passages. Resist the urge to fill silence with movement on stage; let the musicians command the space.
How to use it
Place this late in a concert to shift the mood and energy for your audience. It works beautifully as a palate cleanser between heavier choral works or as a final send-off that leaves people smiling. Consider programming it near other contemporary pop or folk arrangements to create a thematic set.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated patterns within a bluegrass idiom
- Blend and balance of voices against acoustic ensemble accompaniment
- Percussive techniques and ensemble coordination in clapping sections
- Confidence singing contemporary pop repertoire with stylistic authenticity