Somewhere (from West Side Story) (arr. William Stickles): SATB Choral Octavo
Somewhere (from West Side Story) (arr. William Stickles) Sheet Music Preview

Somewhere (from West Side Story) (arr. William Stickles): SATB Choral Octavo

By Leonard Bernstein Stephen Sondheim / Arranged by William Stickles

Item: 35-DS00515697
Digital Download
$2.99

One moment…

Description

Somewhere (from West Side Story) (arr. William Stickles): SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 5
SKU: 35-DS00515697

More about this title

About the Composer: Leonard Bernstein Stephen Sondheim

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was a towering figure in American music, equally commanding as a composer, conductor, and educator. His West Side Story, created with lyricist Stephen Sondheim, remains the gold standard for musical theater composition; it raised the dramatic and musical stakes for the entire genre. Bernstein's gift was transforming vernacular music (jazz, Latin rhythms, contemporary speech patterns) into symphonically sophisticated material without losing its raw energy or emotional directness.

Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) revolutionized musical theater lyrics through his intricate rhyme schemes, psychological depth, and willingness to let characters sing their contradictions rather than their certainties. In West Side Story, Sondheim's lyrics for "Somewhere" transcend the narrative to ask a universal question about safety, belonging, and hope. His words give Bernstein's soaring melody its emotional weight; together, they created one of theater's most enduring anthems.

Why we love this

William Stickles' arrangement captures the orchestral sweep of this song while making it fully accessible to high school and community choirs. The writing balances technical sophistication (chromatic motion, interesting harmonic rhythm) with genuine singability across all four parts, meaning your singers get to inhabit a serious musical moment rather than simply reading notes. Programming this signals that your choir tackles substantial material.

What to expect

Despite its Broadway origins, this settles into something deeper than showstopper energy. Sondheim's lyrics about finding "a place for us" carry the weight of yearning; Bernstein's melody unfolds with orchestral grandeur while remaining intimate. Singing it feels like bearing witness to something true.

Who it's for

This arrangement suits intermediate to advanced SATB ensembles looking for contemporary choral material with genuine theatrical pedigree. It works equally well for concert choirs programming a full show medley or for groups building a set list around themes of hope and resilience.

How to get the most out of it

  • Treat the piece as a dramatic arc rather than a static hymn. The harmonic language shifts subtly throughout; let those changes in color guide your interpretation and phrasing.
  • Anchor the sopranos' sustained lines without tightening the ensemble. This music breathes best when top voices float rather than clench.
  • Balance transparency with warmth in the lower voices. They carry harmonic information that shouldn't disappear into the background.

How to use it

Nest this into a medley of Bernstein selections, or pair it with other song arrangements that explore themes of hope and social connection. It works powerfully as a concert closer or as the emotional centerpiece of a program built around contemporary musical theater.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing sustained lines without fatigue or tension
  • Balancing four-part harmony when voices move at different rhythmic rates
  • Shaping long phrases through subtle harmonic shifts rather than obvious dynamic changes
  • Interpreting theatrical material with concert choir sensibility

You May Also Like