You Are There: SSA Choral Octavo

Ed Lojeski's arrangement captures the warmth and sophistication of Mandel's original without demanding vocal gymnastics from your singers. The SSA voicing sits naturally for changing voices and adult choirs alike, and the jazz-inflected harmonies offer something genuinely different from standard concert fare without becoming a teaching headache.

The piece unfolds with the casual elegance of a late-night jazz standard, where the melody seems almost conversational above swaying harmonies. Mandel's gentle lyricism and Lojeski's voicing create an atmosphere both intimate and lightly swinging, the kind of song that sounds effortless only because every detail has been carefully considered.

Intermediate to advanced SSA choirs, mixed ensembles with strong female sections, and programs seeking sophisticated repertoire that explores jazz idioms without requiring extensive jazz training. Community choirs and high school groups benefit equally from material that respects their musicianship while sounding genuinely contemporary.

• Balance the top line's lyrical phrasing against the harmonic support underneath; SSA textures work best when the three parts breathe as a unified ensemble rather than competing for attention.
• Attend to the jazz inflections in the chord changes, particularly the seventh and ninth extensions that appear throughout the arrangement. These require precise intonation and a collective understanding of harmonic color.
• Shape phrases through dynamic contrast rather than constant forte singing. The piece's charm lives in its sophistication, which reads clearly only when dynamics follow the emotional arc of the text.
• If using the recorded accompaniment, balance it carefully in rehearsal so singers can hear themselves without the track masking their own voices. The arrangement assumes a lighter touch from the rhythm section than a full jazz big band would provide.

Pair this with other Mandel-era standards or contemporary jazz-inflected choral work to anchor a concert around American songbook traditions. Its six pages and moderate difficulty make it ideal for mid-season programming when your ensemble has gelled; the piece rewards rehearsal time with increasing polish and confidence.

• Jazz phrasing and rhythmic flexibility within notated time signatures
• Reading and executing seventh and ninth chord qualities through voice leading
• Blending and balancing three-part textures where harmonic color matters as much as melody
• Interpreting lyrics with sophistication and restraint