I Dreamed a Dream (from "Les Miserables"): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Alain Boublil / By Jean-Marc Natel / By Herbert Kretzmer / By Claude-Michel Schonberg / Arranged by Michael Brown
Grade: 3
Item: 35-PK00130034
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Description
This touching ballad from the landmark musical "Les Miserables" had established itself as a classic long before Susan Boyle scored her knock-out punch on "Britain's Got Talent." This skillfully crafted arrangement can be used to feature a vocalist or any number of instrumental solos (including Clarinet, Alto Sax, Trumpet, or F Horn). Sure to be a showstopper wherever it is performed.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00130034
More about this title
About the Composer: Alain Boublil
Alain Boublil transformed musical theater in the 1980s when he and Claude-Michel Schönberg created "Les Misérables," a work that proved rock-infused storytelling could sustain a full evening of profound human drama. His gift for writing melodies that burrow into the listener's consciousness while serving the emotional arc of a character makes his songs enduringly teachable; they reward both careful listening and deep interpretation.
Why we love this
Michael Brown's arrangement respects the song's intimate core while giving your band room to shine through strategic solo opportunities. The Grade 3 level means your players can tackle real musical substance without becoming bogged down in technical minutiae, leaving energy for the emotional storytelling that makes this arrangement memorable.
What to expect
The melody carries a quiet devastation, moving from resignation into something approaching acceptance. The accompaniment swells with compassion without ever losing its delicacy, creating space for whatever soloist you choose to breathe and truly inhabit the song's vulnerability.
Who it's for
Directors who want a piece with genuine emotional weight at an accessible level, whether you're building a pops concert, framing a musical theater showcase, or seeking material that challenges students to play with maturity beyond their years. This works equally well as a vocal feature or instrumental centerpiece.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody line with restraint in the early sections; the power comes from clarity and space, not volume.
- If featuring a vocalist, keep the band's accompaniment texture open and supportive, especially in the first verse.
- Explore subtle dynamic waves across phrases rather than staying at a single dynamic level; this song lives in the gradual accumulation of feeling.
- The flexibility to feature different solo instruments (clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, or French horn) means you can tailor the arrangement to your ensemble's strengths rather than forcing a particular voice.
How to use it
Position this as a contrast to higher-energy numbers in a concert; its introspective nature makes it an ideal moment for the audience to settle into genuine listening. Pair it with other musical theater arrangements to frame a full program around storytelling, or use it as the emotional anchor of a pops show.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long melodic phrases with shape and direction
- Balancing accompaniment texture to support a featured soloist
- Responding to lyrical content and dramatic intent through instrumental playing
- Controlling dynamics in sustained passages without losing engagement