by Ben Folds
First published 2010
Ben Folds opens his songbook to university vocal groups across America. The musician selects sixteen of his compositions for a cappella treatment, transforming piano-driven originals into pure vocal arrangements. College ensembles tackle emotional territory from "Brick" to "The Luckiest," stripping away instruments to expose raw harmonies. Students navigate complex melodies in "Selfless, Cold and Composed" and find new rhythmic patterns in "Boxing." The collection spans Folds' career, including reflective pieces like "Still Fighting It" and character studies such as "Fred Jones Part 2." Each song presents technical challenges for vocal arrangers while maintaining the storytelling that defines Folds' work. Groups must balance intricate harmonies with the conversational tone of songs like "You Don't Know Me" and "Jesusland." The arrangements reveal how voices can replace piano, bass, and drums without losing musical complexity. This collaboration between a established songwriter and emerging collegiate musicians creates space for reinterpretation while honoring original compositions.
Genres: contemporary, music, college, academia
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: collaboration, reinterpretation
Setting: America
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Paperback · Alfred Publishing Co.