By Marc Shaiman / By Scott Wittman / Arranged by Ed Lojeski
Item: 35-DS00084335
Digital Download
$2.99
Minimum order quantity: 10 copies
Please note: Under U.S. copyright law, you must purchase the exact number of copies needed for your ensemble. Printing, duplicating or sharing additional copies is strictly prohibited.
Pickup currently not available
Description
Discover MakeMusic Cloud: thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Marc Shaiman has become one of Broadway and film's most prolific composers, with a gift for writing music that balances emotional depth with infectious melodic hooks. His work spans musicals like "Hairspray" and "Smash" to film scores and television specials, consistently demonstrating his ability to craft arrangements that serve the story while giving performers room to shine.
Working frequently with lyricist Scott Wittman, Shaiman has built a reputation for understanding ensemble writing. His compositions for choir often reflect his Broadway sensibilities: strong harmonic foundations, singable lines, and moments of genuine vulnerability alongside infectious rhythmic energy.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the emotional rawness of a song about vulnerability and connection without requiring technical gymnastics from your singers. Ed Lojeski's voicing gives each section clear moment to shine, and the piece works equally well as a concert selection or as part of a Broadway-themed program. Your choir will find genuine emotional content to explore here, not just surface charm.
What to expect
The piece carries the bittersweet quality of a late-night conversation between people trying to articulate something difficult. Harmonically warm and conversational, it builds emotional momentum through accumulation rather than showmanship, creating moments of surprising tenderness alongside passages of quiet intensity.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advanced SATB choirs looking for secular repertoire with genuine emotional substance. This works well for choirs who want Broadway material but need an arrangement with musical sophistication and clear pedagogical value.
How to get the most out of it
Protect the lyrical quality in the verse sections by resisting the urge to rush; Shaiman's text setting rewards singers who honor the rhythm of the words themselves.
Balance the inner voices carefully during key harmonic moments. The arrangement relies on these voices to create color and emotional texture, so they need independence from the outer voices without drowning the melody.
Lean into the vulnerability of the lyrics without sentimentality. The song works when singers commit to authentic emotion rather than performing a feeling.
How to use it
Slot this into a Broadway or film music concert as a moment of genuine intimacy amid brighter selections, or pair it with other contemporary secular choral works exploring relationships and human connection. The 14 pages and moderate difficulty make it feasible for concert programming without overwhelming rehearsal time.
Skills your students will build
Balancing melody and harmony when singing inner voice parts with independence
Sustaining legit vocal tone while navigating contemporary harmonic language
