You Make Me Feel So Young: SAB Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the spruce energy of 1940s swing while remaining genuinely singable for mixed voices at concert and show choir levels. Jay Althouse's writing respects the tune's jazz roots—the harmonies swing, the rhythm section sits in the pocket, and the vocal lines breathe naturally rather than forcing classical diction onto popular material.

Bright, infectious, and unapologetically fun. The piece bounces with mid-century optimism and glamour, evoking smoky jazz clubs and sophisticated radio broadcasts. There's a wink in the lyric and the melody, inviting singers and audiences alike to relax into the groove.

Concert choirs and jazz/show choirs seeking repertoire that feels modern and accessible without sacrificing musicality. Ensembles with solid rhythm section support and singers comfortable with jazz phrasing and light, swinging vowels will thrive with this piece.

• Let the rhythm section drive the groove; have your soloists or section leads listen closely to the recorded accompaniment to absorb the swing feel before drilling parts.
• Mark the jazz articulations lightly in your score. Staccatos in a swing context are shorter than classical ones; listen to a Sinatra or Tormé recording to calibrate your ensemble's phrasing.
• Balance the sections so the melody sits clearly forward without drowning the inner parts; SAB voicings are lean, and muddiness kills the swing.
• Encourage the sopranos to sit relaxed on the swing rhythms rather than rushing; a laid-back attack and release will sound more authentic than metronomic precision.

Pair this with other jazz standards or mid-century pop songs to build a cohesive set that showcases your ensemble's range and personality. It works equally well as a concert closer or as a program bridge between classical and contemporary material, and its moderate length makes it ideal for competition or informal performance contexts where variety of style earns points.

• Jazz phrasing and articulation in a mixed-voice context
• Swing rhythm feel and syncopation
• Listening and blending in SAB voicing
• Balancing melody and harmony in contemporary arrangements
• Connecting text and musical character in popular idiom