The Man That Got Away (from "A Star Is Born") - Piano Solo: Piano Solo

Sharon Aaronson's arrangement of this particular song captures the theatrical warmth and jazz sophistication that made Arlen's original so timeless, while making it accessible for pianists who want to perform sophisticated material without excessive technical demands. The phrasing and harmonic detail reward thoughtful interpretation, and the piece sits comfortably under the hands of an early-advanced pianist ready to explore orchestration within a single instrument.

Bittersweet and elegantly crafted, with the tonal warmth of classic Hollywood underscored by jazz harmonies and subtle chromatic movement. The arrangement respects the song's emotional weight—this is a character lamenting lost love—while maintaining the rhythmic vitality and harmonic color that made Arlen's writing so distinctive.

Intermediate to early-advanced pianists who want to explore the American songbook with arrangements that value musicality over technical pyrotechnics. This works equally well for serious students building a recital repertoire, pianists preparing audition material, or teachers seeking sophisticated jazz-influenced repertoire that connects to broader musical history.

• Shape the melody with the dynamic contours of a singer; Arlen's songs are fundamentally vocal in their construction, and the piano arrangement succeeds when you honor that phrasing even on an instrument.
• Pay attention to the balance between the accompanimental figures and the melody line. In jazz-influenced passages, the accompaniment can shift from purely supportive to almost conversational.
• Listen to classic vocal recordings of the tune to absorb its emotional arc and tempo relationships; this will inform how you voice chords and shape transitions between sections.

Program this alongside other American songbook standards to create a thematic concert section on twentieth-century popular song, or use it as a bridge between classical repertoire and jazz-influenced contemporary piano literature. It also serves as an excellent audition or recital piece for pianists seeking material that demonstrates both interpretive maturity and stylistic versatility.

• Voicing jazz harmonies and interpreting lead-sheet-style accompaniments
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a single-instrument setting
• Shaping long melodic lines with rubato and dynamic nuance
• Reading and performing swing rhythms and syncopated figures
• Interpreting standards with attention to emotional content and historical context