Choral Choir (SSAA) - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.507005 By Paula Cole. By Paula Cole. Arranged by David M. Hoyle. 20th Century,Classical,New Age,Pop,Rock. Octavo. 11 pages. Lindley Studios #117417. Published by Lindley Studios (A0.507005). Arrangement of The Ladder for 4-part women's choir: SSAA and piano/keyboard. The lyrics are in a confessional style, while there's a theme of self-determination in the metaphorical ladder of the refrain... The song features on Paula Cole's debut album Harbinger (1994) and runs the gamut of emotions from the urgent, unaccompanied opening strains and melancholy of the verses – to the striving, optimistic, melodic refrain and the joyous climax with divided voices. The original main vocal melody is given to the first sopranos, with the rest of the choir offering a gentle, rhythmicised ah accompaniment in the verses. The crunchy chords and occasional dissonances of the original are dramatised and intensified by the live choral setting. The piano part often operates independently, providing harmonic and rhythmic support and a robust bass in louder passages. No sheet music was originally issued with the song – perhaps because of the richly detailed texture of the women's backing voices – and this arrangement by David M. Hoyle represents the first commercially-available transcription/arrangement.
