Dancing Through Life: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Stephen Schwartz / Arranged by Audrey Snyder
Item: 35-PK00029723
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Description
Finding joy in the ordinary, smiling in spite of setbacks, looking to the future ... all part of the marvelous message found in the captivating music and lyrics of Stephen Schwartz in the hit musical "Wicked." It's just life, so keep dancing through! Performance Time: Approx. 2:30.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00029723
More about this title
About the Composer: Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz has shaped musical theater for half a century, from his early work on "Godspell" and "Pippin" through his landmark achievements with "Wicked" and "Enchanted." His gift lies in crafting songs that burrow into the heart while remaining immediately singable, balancing sophisticated harmony with genuine emotional accessibility. In the classroom and rehearsal hall, his work consistently proves that Broadway music can challenge singers while lifting audiences.
Schwartz's influence on music education extends beyond his catalog. Teachers and directors turn to his compositions because they trust the craft: his lyrics speak to young people's actual experiences, his melodies sit naturally in accessible ranges, and his orchestrations support rather than overwhelm choir voices. "Wicked" alone has introduced countless students to contemporary musical theater as a legitimate art form worthy of serious study.
Why we love this
Audrey Snyder's arrangement captures the soaring optimism of this Schwartz gem while keeping it genuinely performable by high school and community choirs. The orchestration breathes space around the voices, and the 2:30 length means this hits hard without overstaying its welcome in your concert.
What to expect
There's a buoyant defiance here, a kind of graceful determination that meets life's complications head-on without pretending they don't exist. The music sparkles with energy while the lyrics ground you in genuine wisdom about perseverance and joy.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for high school show choirs, concert choirs at the intermediate to advanced level, and community theater productions looking for a contemporary piece with real substance. The special voicing creates flexibility for mixed ensembles of various sizes.
How to get the most out of it
- Build the dynamic arc carefully in the opening phrases; the message of resilience lands hardest when you plant the quieter moments first before the payoff.
- Let the rhythm section lock the groove early in rehearsals so singers can focus on the text and phrasing rather than fighting the tempo.
- Balance the special voicing with clarity; make sure each voice part can be heard distinctly even during the fuller passages.
- Connect the lyrics to the melodic shape; Schwartz never wastes a note, so inflection and intention matter as much as accuracy.
How to use it
Open a spring concert with this for an immediate mood lift, or place it as a finale to send audiences out smiling. It also serves as a perfect anchor piece if you're building a program around contemporary musical theater or the theme of resilience.
Skills your students will build
- Singing contemporary musical theater idiom with authenticity
- Rhythmic precision in syncopated, groove-based material
- Dynamic control and phrase shaping across a two-minute arc
- Balancing harmony blend within a special voicing configuration
- Connecting lyrical intent to melodic and rhythmic choices