I Won't Let You Down (from the musical Tootsie) (arr. Mac Huff): Choral Instrumental Pak
By David Yazbek / Arranged by Mac Huff
Item: 35-PK00468373
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Description
Broadway veteran David Yazbek hasn't written original music for a production that didn't go on to be nominated for Best Original Score at the Tony Awards. This astonishing 5-for-5 streak is currently capped by his work on "Tootsie", a musical adaptation of the 1982 film of the same name. "I Won't Let You Down" is an in-show audition piece, starting out lethargic, but morphing into something grandiose and memorable by the end--a showstopper!
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00468373
More about this title
About the Composer: David Yazbek
David Yazbek has established himself as one of Broadway's most consistently acclaimed composers. His ability to craft music that serves the story while remaining immediately memorable has resulted in an unprecedented streak: five consecutive Tony nominations for Best Original Score (The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Book of Mormon, Hadestown, Stereophonic, and Tootsie). His compositions balance accessibility with sophistication, making them equally effective for theater productions and concert settings.
Yazbek's orchestrations and melodic sensibilities draw from diverse musical traditions, giving each score a distinctive voice. For music educators, his work offers students exposure to contemporary musical theater composition that prioritizes both lyrical clarity and harmonic interest. His scores reward careful listening and reveal new details with repeated hearings.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the architectural brilliance of Yazbek's original writing: the piece genuinely transforms over its arc, moving from introspection to exuberance in a way that keeps singers engaged and audiences riveted. Mac Huff's voicing preserves that emotional journey while making it achievable for high school and college ensembles, and the included instrumental parts let you build a full sound without needing an orchestra pit.
What to expect
You begin almost defeated, as if auditioning for something you're not sure you want. Then conviction builds steadily, and by the end you're walking off stage knowing everyone in the room felt your energy. It's the musical equivalent of a narrative arc that actually lands.
Who it's for
Directors programming Broadway repertoire for concert settings or preparing singers for musical theater styles will find this piece both vocally gratifying and audience friendly. The Choral Instrumental Pak format makes it practical for groups with access to committed instrumentalists. This works equally well for mixed choirs and show choirs seeking contemporary material with genuine substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Resist the urge to rush the opening section. Let the lethargic quality breathe; the contrast with what's coming makes the shift to grandeur far more impactful.
- Balance the instrumental parts carefully during the transformation. The arrangement builds layerwise, so each section of the band needs to hear its role in supporting the harmonic movement.
- Mark the exact moment where energy shifts from reflective to showstopping. Rehearse it multiple times so singers and instrumentalists hit it together.
- Shape the final section dynamically. This isn't about belting; it's about projection and clarity as the piece becomes "memorable."
How to use it
Pair this with other contemporary Broadway selections to show your audience how modern musical theater composition differs from the standards. It also works beautifully as a concert closer, where its showstopping qualities can send the audience out energized. Consider programming it on a pops or spring concert where genre variety is expected.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining narrative tension through dynamic contrast
- Following an arranger's harmonic language in a contemporary score
- Coordinating vocal and instrumental entrances across multiple staves
- Shaping a piece that asks for genuine emotional investment rather than technical display