Shallow: Bb Tenor Saxophone/Bartione Treble Clef

Mike Story's arrangement respects the song's emotional core while building it effectively for marching band forces. The optional alto sax solo at the opening gives you flexibility in your front ensemble feature, and the gradual dynamic and orchestrational buildup creates a natural dramatic arc that lands hard at the finish. This is a closer that will stay with your audience.

Intimate and restrained at first, with the alto sax floating alone over sparse harmony. As the piece unfolds, layer by layer, tension and fullness accumulate steadily until the band arrives at a powerful, unified conclusion that feels earned rather than sudden.

This arrangement works for bands of any size and experience level seeking a Grade 2 piece with real emotional weight and audience recognition. Directors want closing selections that feel substantial and contemporary, and this delivers both without excessive technical demands.

• Feature the alto sax soloist generously in the opening; this moment sets the vulnerable tone that the rest of the piece builds from, so clarity and breath control matter more than volume.
• Anchor the dynamic buildup by keeping the lower voices steady and supported through the middle sections; let the inner voices carry the harmonic weight before the full band swells.
• Balance the melodic line across sections as it transfers through the band rather than letting any one part dominate during the build; the power comes from blend, not individual volume.
• Take time to shape the final cadence with intention; this is your moment to breathe as a unit and release the emotional weight you have built.

Program this as your finale when you want to leave audiences moved rather than energized. The song's existing cultural resonance means listeners recognize it immediately, and the ballad pacing gives your program a reflective ending that creates contrast if you have built to high energy earlier in the show.

• Dynamic control and crescendo pacing over extended passages
• Blend and balance when melodic lines move between sections
• Listening and response to a featured soloist
• Sustaining tone quality and intonation during held notes and slow harmonic movement