Wonderful Life (from Smallfoot) (arr. Mark Brymer): SSA Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's SSA arrangement captures the anthem quality of this film moment while remaining accessible for mixed ability choirs. The piece balances contemporary pop sensibility with traditional choral writing, making it both singable and emotionally engaging for student performers.

Uplifting and affirmative, with the kind of soaring moment that makes singers and audiences both feel the weight of the sentiment. The arrangement honors the song's film context while inviting personal interpretation through vocal color and phrasing.

This arrangement works well for middle school through adult choirs seeking engaging, modern repertoire with proven emotional resonance. The SSA/SSAA voicing makes it ideal for groups with mixed ability levels or fewer tenor and bass singers.

• Treat the melody as a story rather than a song: each phrase builds toward the title affirmation, so shape your phrasing to reflect accumulating emotional weight.
• Balance the SSA voicing so the soprano 1 line doesn't dominate; the texture should feel unified even when voices divide.
• Pay attention to any rhythmic syncopation the arrangement uses to capture the pop idiom; precision here ensures the piece doesn't lose its contemporary edge.

This works beautifully as a contemporary winter or spring concert closer, especially when programming alongside more traditional repertoire to showcase stylistic range. Its accessible singability also makes it suitable for smaller chamber performances or pops-style concert sets.

• Sustaining legit tone through contemporary pop idiom
• Balancing three-part harmony with clear text projection
• Interpreting rhythmic syncopation in choral context
• Connecting emotional narrative to vocal line shaping