Home: 2-Part Choral Octavo

This arrangement honors both the original song's emotional power and the contemporary exposure it gained through Glee, giving choirs access to a piece with genuine cultural resonance. The 2-part voicing opens this Broadway standard to developing singers while Andy Beck and Michael Spresser's arrangement maintains the song's soaring character without oversimplifying the harmonic content.

There's an ache and aspiration woven through this ballad, the kind of vulnerable strength that made the song resonate across generations. Singing it demands genuine emotional commitment; the soaring melodies and rich harmonic support create space for singers to feel the song's message of belonging and yearning.

Middle school and early high school choirs seeking accessible yet substantive Broadway literature will find a natural fit here. This octavo works equally well for beginning treble choirs and mixed ensembles exploring pop-influenced choral arrangements.

• Shape the melody with continuous legit phrasing rather than breaking it into small fragments; let each phrase breathe toward its peak before releasing
• Balance the lush harmonies by keeping lower voices present and warm without allowing them to obscure the soaring top line
• Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in the groove and emotional pacing, especially in sections where the two parts diverge

Program this alongside other Broadway-to-contemporary crossover pieces to showcase how choral music bridges classic and current repertoire. It works beautifully as a centerpiece in a concert celebrating the musical theater canon, or as a standalone feature that connects with audiences who know the Glee version.

• Legit singing technique (sustained tone quality, breath management across longer phrases)
• Part independence in 2-part voicing with independent melodic material
• Harmonic awareness through lush, jazz-influenced chord progressions
• Emotional expression and storytelling through lyrical content