Mr Blue Sky

It is a crazy project to take a song from a rock group whose very name evokes both the extravagance of their instrumentation and their use of technological interventions, and render it into a 4-part a cappella texture, isn't it? And yet, the Electric Light Orchestra's optimistic and uplifting tune works its cheerful magic just as happily in this version, as popularised by Reckless quartet:

Disclaimer: I don't think this arrangement sits on female voices especially easily, but have been persuaded into transposing it by a couple of very accomplished ensembles who have the range. For people with normal skills: approach with care.

N.B. For mixed voicings, I have given two options. The original one, listed here, is exactly as the TTBB version, transposed up a major 3rd. The revised one, labelled 'choral', exchanges some material between the original lead and bari lines, leading to more sharing of the melody and a more comfortable tessitura for choirs with altos/tenors rather than lead/bari. For the latter, I have also suggested that Sop 2s join the alto line, leaving Sop 1s on the original tenor line, so as not to overbalance the texture.