Writings On The Wall (arr. Dirk Kokx): SSATB Choral Octavo

Dirk Kokx's arrangement captures the reflective core of this song while building it into something choirs can sink their teeth into across 126 pages of substantial material. The SSA/SSAA voicing opens the piece to diverse ensemble configurations, and the pop sensibility keeps students engaged with contemporary material that still demands serious musical attention.

Introspective and present. The arrangement honors the song's contemplative original while creating space for choral warmth and resonance. There's a quality of collective reflection here, as if many voices are sharing a single intimate thought.

Choirs with intermediate to advanced sight readers who want meaningful pop repertoire beyond novelty arrangements. This works equally well for high school choirs seeking concert material with depth and for adult ensembles looking to expand beyond traditional classical voicing.

• Balance the inner voices carefully during the harmonic passages; the arrangement's sophistication relies on listeners hearing all four parts equally, not just soprano and alto lines.
• Work the legit approach to this pop material. Smith's vocal style emphasizes line and sustain, so resist the impulse to chop phrases into small chunks; let your singers connect across longer musical thoughts.
• Record yourself early in rehearsals. This gives singers a reference for blend and intonation before muscle memory sets in, and it helps them hear how their part sits within the fuller harmonic picture.

Consider this for a concert that blends classical and contemporary work, where it can serve as a pivot point between traditional repertoire and modern songwriting. The substantial length also makes it suitable as a focal piece in a pop or musical theater concert, or as a meaningful closing number that shifts the emotional register of your program.

• Sustaining legit vocal line through extended harmonic passages
• Hearing and maintaining individual parts within complex four-part textures
• Interpreting contemporary pop songwriting through a choral lens
• Balancing contemporary style with classical vocal production