Try to Remember (from The Fantasticks): Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Mike Lewis has transformed this beloved song into something that feels both intimate and celebratory. The light jazz waltz setting preserves the tune's emotional core while giving your orchestra a chance to swing, making this equally effective as a concert opener or a program contrast to heavier works.

Nostalgic and open-hearted, with just enough harmonic sophistication to keep the arrangement interesting. The waltz pulse creates an almost waltzing quality that feels timeless, neither trying to reinvent the song nor simply rehashing it.

This works for orchestras comfortable with Grade 4 technical demands and basic jazz phrasing. It's ideal for programs seeking a piece that reaches audiences instantly while giving students experience with theatre repertoire and lighter textures.

• Let the waltz breathe. The 3/4 meter should feel natural and unhurried, not metronomic. A slight rubato in the melody will honor the song's theatrical roots.
• Balance the jazz elements carefully. The swing feel should complement rather than overshadow the orchestration. Brass and reeds need clean articulation without aggressive attack.
• Shape the melody through the sections, particularly if it passes between instruments. Continuity matters more than individual phrase emphasis in a standard like this.

This pairs well with either classical standards or contemporary concert music as a palate cleanser. It's particularly effective early in a concert when you want to establish warmth and connection with your audience before moving into heavier fare.

• Phrasing in 3/4 meter with jazz inflection
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in an orchestral arrangement
• Executing clean articulation in swing style passages
• Reading orchestration across multiple instrument families