ARRANGEMENTS FOR SATB VOCAL
JAZZ ENSEMBLE
+RHYTHM SECTION
BORN AT THE RIGHT TIME
Underrated Paul Simon gem from his 1990 album “The Rhythm of the Saints.”
PLAY BALL
Dave Frishberg’s simple homage to the great American pastime of baseball.
ORANGE AND BLUE
“A wonderfully veiled and inspiring lyric runs through this Sarah Jarosz song arranged by David von Kampen. The baritone split is brief, making the majority of the writing SATB, and the chart is highly approachable for many developing vocal jazz groups. Excellent and natural-sounding lyric phrasing makes the storytelling conversational and subtle throughout, and von Kampen's personal arranging style is present throughout in his artful use of harmonic tension matched with plenty of openness and some unison writing, as well as great fully-notated writing for the rhythm section. This understated arrangement will be very fulfilling for your group to perform.” - KM
I’m Glad There is you
“Another beautiful and effective arrangement of a standard by David von Kampen! This chart is written SATB with no divisi and no solo features, making it a highly flexible ballad useable in a wide range of choirs and contemporary vocal groups. The lyric provides a simple but powerful message of love and gratitude, and von Kampen's setting does service to the original composition while offering a few subtle harmonic surprises that will bring goosebumps to the performers and listeners.” - KM
GREEN LIGHTS
“A beautifully crafted song by the newgrass singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz is set masterfully by David von Kampen, retaining the driving energy and uplifting nature of the original while bringing his unique voicing style and linear approach to the jazz choir. A male/female duet pops out of the texture briefly, but otherwise, the piece is written as an ensemble feature throughout. Well-notated rhythm section parts make this performable by a wide-range of ensembles.” - KM
THE TOURIST
“The dark and powerful Radiohead song from "OK Computer" is arranged here by David von Kampen for vocal jazz ensemble. Modern and edgy harmonies and an intensely emotional message, however, the vocal parts are singable for most high school and college groups. Guitar is recommended but optional, and electric piano would help the vibe as well.” - KM
RECKONER
“David von Kampen's arrangement of the dark, moody Radiohead song from their album "In Rainbows" is a deliberate slow burn, leading to a climax late in the chart. Inspired by Robert Glasper's instrumental recording, and somewhat sparsely arranged, the voice parts wind around one another with long lines that come and go, occasionally revealing a subtly driving rhythm section underneath. No solo featured in this chart, so the ensemble takes the fore throughout, although a small sub-group is responsible for a late-emerging syncopated ostinato. The lyrics tell a shrouded story of a dreamer being awoken to face their reality.” - KM
YOU ARE THERE
“David von Kampen's arrangement of this Dave Frishberg/Johnny Mandel touching ballad is set simply and elegantly, featuring only piano with straight-forward and effective vocal parts. Briefly features a female lyric solo.” - KM
HEATHENS
“The edgy hit song from Twenty-One Pilots featured in the 2016 supervillains movie "Suicide Squad" is injected with von Kampen's savvy sense of reharmonization and texture changes. Very hip and surprisingly accessible due to good voice leading.” - KM
WARMTH OF THE SUN
(Available as SATB or TTBB)
“An a cappella mixed choir arrangement of the Beach Boys classic from the prolific multi-genre composer/arranger David von Kampen. The ensemble sings homophonically throughout, with no solos, making this chart a great crossover for traditional choirs as well as contemporary groups, and the rich harmony and a couple effective key changes and chord substitutions contribute to Brian Wilson's already beautiful harmony and soaring melodies.” - KM
THAT OLD FEELING
“A perfect medium-tempo swinging chart for your set! Inspired by Chet Baker's recording of the standard jazz tune, David von Kampen's arrangement is easy to sing, but with swinging, authentic phrasing throughout. The chart has no lyric solo features, but offers improv solo space for instrumentalists or vocalists, and an efficiently-written soli section is both achievable and musically effective.” - KM
OTOÑO
“David von Kampen's wordless arrangement of a beautiful Vince Mendoza composition in tribute to Autumn, featuring solo space for improvising vocalists or instrumentalists. The use of palmas (one or two people performing hand claps) and cajón (a "box" drum commonly used in modern jazz as its origin in Peruvian music, very useful for a cappella songs, in place of vocal percussion) produces a uniquely relaxed texture on which the vocalists sing Mendoza's legato, syncopated lines. The chord progression subtly drives the piece forward in what feels like a series of circular expressions. This will make a wonderfully artistic form of abstract expression for your ensemble!” - KM
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
“A beautiful contemporary reimagining of the hit from The Mamas and the Papas, taking you through polyphony and sudden surprising harmonic detours. Notated piano and bass parts and good voicing leading make this chart very singable by groups with some experience and maturity, and the payoff is chills-inducing.” - KM