Tim Rice has spent five decades as one of musical theatre's most celebrated lyricists, shaping the sound of contemporary song through collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, and ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. His work on The Lion King earned him an Academy Award and cemented the show as a cultural phenomenon that continues to reach new generations of students and audiences.
Why we love this
Audrey Snyder's arrangement captures the emotional warmth of this iconic ballad while making it entirely accessible to developing singers. The 2-part voicing sits comfortably across mixed or treble choirs, and the straightforward harmonic language lets students focus on genuine musicality rather than technical survival.
What to expect
Gentle and sincere, with an underlying current of joy and discovery. The arrangement honors the original's warmth while creating space for young voices to inhabit the moment without strain.
Who it's for
This arrangement suits developing choirs of any age, from middle school through community ensembles. The Disney repertoire, combined with Snyder's musician-friendly writing, makes it equally valuable for concert programming and for building student confidence in a familiar song.
How to get the most out of it
Shape the melodic line with purposeful dynamic contours; resist the temptation to push volume early, saving your crescendo for the final statements of 'the love tonight.'
Balance the two parts so neither dominates, especially in moments where they move in counterpoint. Blend matters more than blend.
Connect the text to its source: this is Simba's moment of realization. Let the choir feel the tenderness and hope embedded in every phrase.
Take time with the sustained notes and allow breath points to feel natural rather than mechanical. The arrangement breathes with the emotion of the song.
How to use it
Pair this with other accessible arrangements in a spring or year-end concert celebrating popular music and musical theatre. It works as a standalone piece or as the centerpiece of a set exploring love and connection across genres, and its 11-page length makes it manageable alongside longer works.
Skills your students will build
Sustaining legit tone across longer phrases
Blending two distinct vocal lines with equal presence
Interpreting lyrical content to shape phrasing and dynamics
Navigating simple but effective harmonic progressions
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