Music from Wicked (arr. Michael Sweeney): Flex Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By Stephen Schwartz / Arranged by Michael Sweeney
Grade: 2
Item: 35-PK01579696
$70.00
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Description
This very playable yet effectively powerful setting of highlights from the hit Broadway musical about the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West is now available in flexible format. Includes: No One Mourns the Wicked; Dancing Through Life; Defying Gravity and For Good.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01579696
More about this title
About the Composer: Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz has shaped musical theater for over four decades, crafting scores that balance theatrical storytelling with genuine melodic sophistication. His work as composer and lyricist across Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, and Hadestown demonstrates his gift for writing music that audiences embrace immediately while musicians discover new depths with each performance.
Why we love this
Michael Sweeney's orchestration respects the pop sensibility of these beloved songs while making them sit beautifully in a flex ensemble context. The Grade 2 level means your ensemble gets to perform recognizable, crowd-pleasing material without sacrificing musical substance or requiring advanced instrumental technique.
What to expect
Touching down on four emotional landscapes within a single performance. You move from the witchy, incantatory opening through the carefree exhilaration of "Dancing Through Life"; then "Defying Gravity" sweeps you skyward with soaring optimism, and "For Good" grounds you again in reflection and gratitude.
Who it's for
Ensembles seeking Broadway repertoire that serves younger or less experienced players without resorting to oversimplified arrangements. Concert programs that need crowd engagement, pep band applications, or groups building confidence with recognizable material all benefit from this collection.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the opening of "No One Mourns the Wicked" breathe with space between phrases; resist the urge to push tempo, and the quieter moments will land with real dramatic weight.
- Keep the rhythm section locked and confident in "Dancing Through Life" so the ensemble has a steady groove to sit against; the accessibility of this tune means the audience hears every detail.
- Build "Defying Gravity" gradually rather than starting at full volume; Sweeney's arrangement has dynamic shape built in, and respecting those curves makes the climax genuinely powerful.
- Balance soloists carefully in "For Good" so the melodic material registers clearly; this closing statement deserves clarity above all else.
How to use it
Build a full Wicked-themed concert around these four selections, pairing them with other Schwartz compositions or contemporary Broadway work to showcase the range of musical theater. Alternatively, slot "Defying Gravity" alone as a show-stopping concert closer, or use "For Good" as a meaningful finale for a spring concert or graduation event.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing in contemporary pop-influenced melody
- Rhythmic accuracy in syncopated figures and groove-based accompaniment patterns
- Dynamics and expression within accessible tessitura
- Balance between melody and harmonic support
- Stylistic interpretation of Broadway idiom