Somewhere (from West Side Story): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Michael Brown's arrangement respects the emotional core of Bernstein's original while making the piece genuinely playable for Grade 2 ensembles. Your students get to own a piece of theater history, not a watered-down approximation of it. The 3:10 duration fits concert programs perfectly without demanding extensive rehearsal time.

Hope and longing rendered in Bernstein's lush harmonies, filtered through an arrangement that lets younger musicians access genuine pathos. The melody carries weight and tenderness at once, creating a moment of reflection that audiences lean into.

Concert bands working at Grade 2 level who want repertoire that sounds mature and moving without overreaching technically. Directors seeking a lyrical centerpiece for a spring or fall concert, or a standalone offering for a Broadway-themed program.

• Let the legato phrasing breathe naturally; this isn't a march. Resist the urge to push the tempo forward, and trust the songlike quality of the melody line.
• Balance the harmonic accompaniment carefully so the tune emerges clearly without the supporting voices disappearing. Younger bands tend to play everything at the same dynamic level.
• Bring out the emotional shape of the piece by thinking in phrases rather than measures. Where does each musical idea build or settle? Let that inform your conducting gestures.
• Listen for intonation in the held chords. Slow music exposes tuning issues, so give yourself and your players time to adjust balance and blend during rehearsals.

Use this as your emotional anchor in a concert pairing it with more energetic selections. It works beautifully as a second-half opener or a closing number that sends audiences out thinking. The piece also serves well for community events where non-musicians appreciate Broadway standards.

• Sustaining tone quality and intonation across longer phrases
• Interpreting dynamic shape in ballad writing
• Supporting a melody line with cohesive harmonic texture
• Recognizing and performing legato articulation
• Understanding musical phrasing beyond bar lines