Ska/pop band Madness recorded this song in 1981 and it has become a firm favourite, especially at weddings and anniversary parties. This arrangement avoids the obvious piano chords in the vocal parts, focusing more on melodic polyphony. It is not too difficult to put together and has exciting parts for all singers.

I've also done optional parts for the sax/guitar solo in the middle; these are provided in C (treble and bass clefs), B flat and E flat to cater for almost any solo instrument you have available to play it (possibly a choir member?). This solo should be loud and raucous! The piece still works perfectly well without, however. It is great to perform and to listen to for the audience. Enjoy!

SAB with melody for all parts in sections, very simple piano part and optional body percussion marked throughout. Non gender specific changed lyrics and non swearing for a school setting.

Mad World is a 1982 song written by Roland Orzabal and sung by Curt Smith, members of the British band Tears for Fears. It was the band's third single release and its first chart hit, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. It has since been covered by an extensive list of singers, most notably by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews for the soundtrack of the 2001 film Donnie Darko. This version became a UK number one hit when it was released as a single in 2003.

Orzabal wrote the song when he was 19, living in an apartment above a pizza shop in Bath. Here he would spend his time looking out the window, strumming guitar and watching people going about their daily business. "It's a bizarre viewpoint to watch people go about their daily routine, having to work for a living, when you're sitting in a flat, unemployed," he said. "That's where it came from."

In keeping with the poignant simplicity of the Gary Jules version, this choral arrangement seeks to maintain the clarity of the text, with passing dissonances highlighting the word ?mad?. The ending section includes overlapping motif ideas which can be effectively dramatized in accordance with the included performance notes.

Mad World is available in three voicings ? SSA, SAB and SATB ? all with piano accompaniment.

Mad World is a 1982 song written by Roland Orzabal and sung by Curt Smith, members of the British band Tears for Fears. It was the band's third single release and its first chart hit, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. It has since been covered by an extensive list of singers, most notably by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews for the soundtrack of the 2001 film Donnie Darko. This version became a UK number one hit when it was released as a single in 2003.

Orzabal wrote the song when he was 19, living in an apartment above a pizza shop in Bath. Here he would spend his time looking out the window, strumming guitar and watching people going about their daily business. "It's a bizarre viewpoint to watch people go about their daily routine, having to work for a living, when you're sitting in a flat, unemployed," he said. "That's where it came from."

In keeping with the poignant simplicity of the Gary Jules version, this choral arrangement seeks to maintain the clarity of the text, with passing dissonances highlighting the word ?mad?. The ending section includes overlapping motif ideas which can be effectively dramatized in accordance with the included performance notes.

Mad World is available in three voicings ? SSA, SAB and SATB ? all with piano accompaniment.

Delightful arrangement of this beautiful song by Abba which also featured in the films Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. This arrangement for SAB and piano is part of the Keep Singing Series for community choirs, designed to be easy to teach and easy to learn. Will also work with traditional SATB - just put all your men on the Baritone part which is mainly the tune.
Rehearsal tracks available at www.keepcalmandkeepsinging.com
Easy level
Duration: Just under 3 minutes