Yes We Can Can (arr. Kirby Shaw): SATB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the infectious momentum of the original while giving your choir room to really lock into the groove. The part writing is clever without being precious; your singers will feel the funk even as they're learning solid ensemble technique. This is the kind of song that energizes a concert and reminds audiences why vocal music can make people move.

The energy is buoyant and celebratory, built on a foundation of funk that never lets the groove slip. There's an undeniable swagger to the voicing, with the ability to feel both playful and powerfully together. Your choir will sense the joy in this music immediately.

This octavo works for choirs seeking material that engages audiences beyond the typical classical repertoire while still demanding genuine musicianship. Any director looking to program something with contemporary appeal and rhythmic integrity will find this arrangement delivers.

• Nail the rhythmic precision in the rhythm section. Your tenors and basses need to feel locked together, almost like a single percussive instrument. Mark the subdivision in rehearsal until the pulse feels inevitable.
• Layer in dynamics gradually during arrangement rehearsals. The magic happens when the full sound emerges from a controlled foundation rather than starting loud and staying there.
• Let the women's parts carry the melodic memory of the original while the men support the groove. This division of labor makes the arrangement sit well in the ear.

Position this mid-concert where you need an energy shift or as a finale that sends the audience out feeling the music in their bodies. The piece also works beautifully as a bridge between classical and contemporary programming, showing audiences that choir concerts can encompass multiple musical worlds.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated funk grooves
• Ensemble lock in the rhythm section (tenor and bass lines)
• Sustained vocal energy across longer phrase structures
• Stylistic awareness of pop and funk idioms
• Dynamic control and layered intensity building