Send In The Clowns (arr. John Leavitt): SATB Choral Octavo
Send In The Clowns (arr. John Leavitt) Sheet Music Preview

Send In The Clowns (arr. John Leavitt): SATB Choral Octavo

By Stephen Sondheim / Arranged by John Leavitt

Item: 35-DS01678868
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 11
SKU: 35-DS01678868

More about this title

About the Composer: Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim revolutionized musical theater by treating the song as dramatic necessity rather than entertainment interlude. His lyrics marry intricate rhyme schemes with psychological depth, while his melodies emerge organically from character and story. For music educators, Sondheim's work offers a masterclass in how popular music can demand the same analytical rigor and expressive sophistication we expect from classical art song.

Beyond Broadway, Sondheim's influence on American music education is profound. His scores teach students that theatrical music requires vocal control, interpretive maturity, and the ability to inhabit a character's emotional landscape. Choral arrangers have long recognized that Sondheim's melodies, even when simplified for ensemble singing, retain their theatrical power and emotional truth.

Why we love this

Leavitt's arrangement preserves the song's introspective heart while making it genuinely singable for four-part ensembles. The piece works equally well as a concert closer or as part of a Broadway-themed program, and it teaches singers how to balance sophistication with accessibility. You'll find your ensemble rising to meet music that respects their musicianship without demanding operatic training.

What to expect

Bittersweet and tenderly melancholic, like a moment of painful clarity set to music. The arrangement draws listeners into an intimate confession, where laughter and sorrow coexist in the same breath.

Who it's for

Advanced high school choirs and college ensembles with secure sight-reading skills and the emotional maturity to connect with Sondheim's bittersweet introspection. Directors seeking crossover repertoire that bridges musical theater and concert music will find this arrangement particularly valuable for programming diversity.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the opening phrases with legit singing; the melody needs to float rather than punch. Think lyrical vulnerability, not belt energy.
  • Balance the inner voices carefully in moments where they support the melody line. Leavitt's voicing can obscure the tune if the soprano isn't clearly audible.
  • Commit to the text's emotional arc. This song hinges on the paradox of laughing through heartbreak. Without that tension, it becomes merely pretty.
  • Take the tempo as a gentle ballad, not a dirge. The arrangement will breathe naturally if you allow slight rubato around the emotional peaks.

How to use it

Consider pairing this with other Sondheim songs or Broadway standards for a concert that celebrates musical theater as art form rather than entertainment commodity. It also serves beautifully as a spring concert closer, offering a poignant, mature finale that leaves audiences in reflective silence.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustained legit singing technique across a middle-range tessitura
  • Text interpretation in musical theater style
  • Balancing ensemble blend while maintaining melodic clarity
  • Approaching Broadway music with concert hall artistry
  • Emotional nuance in tempo and dynamics

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