(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher: SATB, a cappella Choral Octavo
Words and music by Gary Jackson, Carl Smith, and Raynard Miner / arr. Kirby Shaw
Item: 00-PO-0006483
$2.10
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A bona fide hit that ranks among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, this undeniably happy tune is also in the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. Having been recorded by popular artists in nearly every decade since the 1960s, the song truly stands the test of time. A cappella groups will love Kirby Shaw's accessible treatment, with driving rhythms and bright choral sonorities to spare.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006483
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Jackson
Gary Jackson co-wrote one of the most enduring pop standards of the modern era. Working alongside Carl Smith and Raynard Miner, Jackson helped create a song that has transcended its original 1960s context to become a staple of American popular music. His songwriting demonstrates the kind of melodic clarity and emotional directness that allows a tune to survive countless interpretations across generations.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the infectious joy of the original without requiring instrumental accompaniment. The driving rhythmic framework and lush four-part harmony give singers genuine work to do while keeping the song instantly recognizable. Programming a GRAMMY Hall of Fame hit that audiences actually know is rare; this version lets your group own it completely.
What to expect
Unrelenting optimism wrapped in tight four-part harmony. The song bounces forward with rhythmic energy while the arrangement fills the air with warm, blended vowels and moments of sparkling brightness.
Who it's for
Any SATB choir looking for crowd-pleasing repertoire with genuine musical substance. Singers love performing songs they grew up hearing, and this arrangement delivers accessibility without sacrificing choral writing quality.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythmic drive from the start. Shaw's arrangement lives in the pocket, so establish that groove early in rehearsal and maintain it through all sections.
- Balance the bright sonorities by resisting the urge to oversing. This tune thrives on clarity and forward motion, not weight.
- Shape the phrase architecture around the song's melodic arc rather than choral technique. Let the joy of the original melody inform your phrasing choices.
- Drill the rhythmic counterpoint between parts, especially where Shaw layers different rhythmic figures. That textural interest is what keeps a cappella arrangements engaging.
How to use it
Drop this into a pop or secular concert to anchor your program with something the audience recognizes immediately. It works equally well in a spring concert or as a showstopper finale where you want high energy without instrumental support.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in a cappella settings without metric reference
- Balancing independent melodic lines while preserving overall harmonic blend
- Sustaining vowel consistency across changing articulations and rhythmic figures
- Shaping pop-influenced phrasing within a choral framework