One (from A Chorus Line): Lead Sheet / Fake Book
One (from A Chorus Line) Sheet Music Preview

One (from A Chorus Line): Lead Sheet / Fake Book

As performed by Marvin Hamlisch

Item: 35-DS00440534
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$3.99
Description

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 1
SKU: 35-DS00440534

More about this title

About the Artist: Marvin Hamlisch

Marvin Hamlisch won three Academy Awards before turning thirty, a feat matched by few composers in film history. His gift for writing memorable melodies that serve the story without overshadowing the performers made him essential to Broadway and Hollywood during the 1970s and 80s.

Beyond accolades, Hamlisch understood how music functions in theater. His scores for A Chorus Line and The Way We Were demonstrate a composer who writes for singers and orchestras with equal skill, balancing sophistication with accessibility. For music educators, his work models how strong melodic writing can anchor both dramatic moments and intimate character songs.

Why we love this

One captures everything that made A Chorus Line resonate: a soaring chorus hook layered over a foundation of conversational lyrics and introspective verses. The lead sheet format lets pianists and keyboardists explore the jazz voicings that give this showstopper its emotional weight, revealing how Hamlisch built grandeur from relatively simple harmonic architecture.

What to expect

One builds from intimate self-examination into communal celebration, mirroring the emotional arc of the song's lyrics. The melody opens quietly, almost conversational, then expands into a soaring affirmation that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Who it's for

Pianists and keyboardists preparing this song for auditions, recitals, or musical theater programs will find this single-page lead sheet essential. Singers working through the show or assembling a jazz standards set can use it as a reference for understanding the harmonic movement beneath the melody.

How to get the most out of it

  • Nail the tempo: this song lives in the pocket between ballad and uptempo jazz. Find the groove that lets the melody breathe without dragging.
  • Voice the accompaniment to support the vocal line's register. The melody occupies different ranges in each section, so adjust your harmonic voicings to complement, not compete.
  • Build the final chorus dynamically. The song's power accumulates through repetition and orchestration, so let each phrase feel slightly more assured than the last.
  • Pay attention to the lyrical subtext in verses before the big hook lands. The understated moments make the chorus impact hit harder.

How to use it

Include this in a jazz or Broadway standards concert to showcase a crossover hit that bridges theatrical and jazz aesthetics. Pair it with other showstoppers from the 1970s to underscore how that decade redefined the musical theater sound, or present it as a solo feature for a pianist or vocalist in a pops concert.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation
  • Building jazz voicings over a diatonic harmonic progression
  • Balancing accompaniment dynamics to support vocal phrasing
  • Managing tempo and groove in uptempo ballad contexts
  • Understanding how lyrical content shapes musical interpretation

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