The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face — Piano, Vocal & Guitar Sheet Music
The Grammy-winning ceremony classic, professionally arranged for Piano, Vocal & Guitar by Paul Lorenz — in C Major, matching the Roberta Flack recording
Written in 1957 as a love declaration delivered across an ocean, and made immortal by Roberta Flack’s 1972 recording — Billboard’s #1 single of the year and a double Grammy winner — “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is one of the most requested ceremony and romantic performance pieces of the past five decades. Every wedding pianist knows it by reputation. Most also know the frustration: consumer PVG editions from large sheet music retailers rarely specify which artist’s version they represent, the piano voicing is often cluttered or under-arranged, and page turns arrive at exactly the wrong moment.
This professional PVG edition by Paul Lorenz is arranged specifically in C Major, matching the character of Flack’s landmark 1972 recording. The piano part is professionally voiced for live performance, with page turns placed at natural rests — never mid-phrase. The vocal line is clearly engraved without cluttering the staff, and guitar chord diagrams sit above the vocal line for ensemble use. At 600 DPI, the score renders cleanly on paper and on tablet (forScore, OnSong) at any zoom level. Download instantly via PayHip — no account required, no waiting.
Hear the arrangement
A 30-second excerpt from Paul Lorenz’ own studio recording of this arrangement.
Listen to the full recording Artyfile Stream · lossless Hi-FiChoose your “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” edition
Piano, Vocal, Guitar
€9.90The ceremony pianist’s edition — professional piano voicing in C Major, matching the Roberta Flack 1972 Grammy recording. Clear vocal line, guitar chord diagrams, and page turns placed where they belong: at the rests.
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- Licensed edition
Full Orchestra
from €49.90
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is also published in this scoring — with its own score preview and full details on the edition page.
View this edition →Quality in detail
- Professional PVG Engraving: Clean piano score, vocal line, and guitar chord diagrams — not a consumer reduction or MIDI export.
- C Major — Roberta Flack’s Key: Matches the 1972 Grammy-winning recording exactly — no key guessing for vocal preparation.
- Optimized Page Turns: Placed at natural musical rests — never mid-phrase during a climactic ceremony moment.
- 600 DPI Clarity: Crystal-clear on paper and on iPad (forScore, OnSong) — print from your desk or read from a tablet on stage.
- Licensed for Your Performances: Your purchase licenses this edition for use by you and your ensemble — print and perform. Public performances are reported to your PRO (GEMA/AKM/SUISA or ASCAP/BMI/PRS) by the organiser as usual.
- Instant Download: Purchase once via PayHip — delivered immediately, no account required, no waiting for shipping.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face sheet music at a glance
| Song | The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face — Ewan MacColl, 1957; the definitive 1972 Roberta Flack recording |
| Arrangement | Piano, Vocal & Guitar (PVG) — professionally voiced for live performance |
| Arranger | Paul Lorenz — arrangements recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road |
| Scoring | Full piano part, engraved vocal line with original lyrics, and guitar chord diagrams above the staff |
| Key | C Major — matching the Roberta Flack recording |
| Difficulty | Grade 3 — intermediate to professional accompanist; vocal range approx. A3–E5 |
| Format | High-resolution 600 DPI PDF — instant download, print- and tablet-ready (forScore, OnSong) |
| Licensing | Licensed for performances by the purchasing performer or ensemble; public performances reported to your PRO (GEMA/AKM/SUISA or ASCAP/BMI/PRS) by the organiser as usual |
| Reference recording | Paul Lorenz’ own studio recording — sound sample on this page, complete on Artyfile Stream |
| Price | €9.90 |
Is this edition right for you?
A ceremony and concert standard that lives or dies on how it is voiced and where its page turns fall. This edition is written for:
- Wedding and ceremony pianists who need the Roberta Flack feel in her original key
- Vocalist-and-accompanist duos preparing a romantic set without key guessing
- Small ensembles using the guitar chord diagrams above the vocal line
- Musical directors building a bespoke ceremony programme
Need a transposition or a different voicing? Paul Lorenz adapts it on request — just ask before you buy.
What you receive
- The full PVG score — professional piano part in C Major
- The vocal line with original lyrics, plus guitar chord diagrams above the staff
- A single high-resolution 600 DPI PDF including the license document for use by your ensemble, delivered instantly and yours to keep — no rental
Programming The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
This is a slow-burning centrepiece rather than an opener — its power comes from restraint, so give it room and let the final verse breathe. In a ceremony it sits beautifully at the processional or the signing of the register; in concert it works as the emotional pivot before a brighter closer. Keep the piano voicing transparent under the voice, honour the natural rests, and let the page turns Paul Lorenz has placed carry you cleanly into that last verse. Explore the related arrangements below to build the rest of the programme.
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The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face sheet music — frequently asked questions
Can I hear this arrangement before I buy?
Yes. The sound sample near the top of this page plays a 30-second excerpt of Paul Lorenz’ own studio recording of this arrangement, and the complete recording streams on Artyfile Stream — his lossless hi-fi service, where full playback requires a subscription.
What is included in the download?
You receive a complete PVG (Piano, Vocal & Guitar) score: a full professional piano arrangement in C Major, the vocal line with original lyrics, guitar chord diagrams above the staff, and a license PDF covering use by you and your ensemble — all as a single 600 DPI high-resolution PDF ready for print or tablet use.
What is the difficulty level?
Grade 3 — Intermediate to Professional. The piano part is well within the reach of an experienced accompanist with some professional performance background. The vocal range sits in approximately A3 to E5, comfortably suited to a lyric soprano or mezzo-soprano. The vocal line is clearly engraved and does not require sight-reading under pressure.
Do I need a performance license?
Your purchase includes the license for performances by the purchasing performer or ensemble at ceremonies, weddings, and concerts. As usual, the public performance itself is reported to the responsible performing-rights society — GEMA in Germany, AKM in Austria, SUISA in Switzerland (ASCAP/BMI/PRS elsewhere) — by the organiser or ensemble. For commercial recordings or broadcast use, please contact us directly.
Can the arrangement be customized?
Yes. Paul Lorenz Music offers bespoke customization, including key transpositions to match your vocalist’s specific range — a service unique in the professional sheet music industry. Contact us directly to discuss your requirements before or after purchase.
What is your refund policy?
Due to the digital nature of our products, we cannot offer refunds once the download has been accessed. We encourage you to review the score preview carefully and contact us with any questions before purchasing.