When I Need You — SATB Choir & Piano Sheet Music
An idiomatic SATB choral arrangement of Leo Sayer’s beloved wedding ballad, honoring the song’s 3/4 waltz character — arranged by Paul Lorenz
When Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager wrote “When I Need You” in 1976, they built it around a 3/4 waltz pulse — a swaying, tender lilt that gives the melody its emotional signature. Available SATB arrangements consistently miss this. Stiff quarter-note accompaniments flatten the waltz into a plodding march; over-simplified piano reductions leave the accompanist underutilized; generic voice-leading drains the song of the intimacy that made Leo Sayer’s recording a double number one on both sides of the Atlantic.
Paul Lorenz’s SATB Choir & Piano edition corrects every one of those failures. The choral writing is idiomatic — the 3/4 waltz character is woven into the voice-leading naturally, not retrofitted. The piano score is a full, musicianly accompaniment that carries the ensemble rather than doubling the vocal line mechanically. The complete package — individual voice-part copies, conductor’s edition, and piano score — is delivered as a single high-resolution PDF instant download, backed by a performance license covering ASCAP, BMI, and PRS jurisdictions.
Choose your “When I Need You” edition
Choir & Piano
€29.90A complete, performance-ready choral package — SATB choral score, individual voice-part copies for every section, and a full piano accompaniment score that gives your accompanist a genuinely musical part to play. Everything your choir and pianist need in a single download.
- Instant PDF download
- Secure checkout
- Licensed for performance
Also available for your ensemble
Prefer a different scoring? “When I Need You” is also published as:
Quality in detail
- Complete Choral Package: SATB score, individual voice-part copies, conductor’s edition, and piano accompaniment — everything for choir, pianist, and director in one download.
- Idiomatic 3/4 Writing: The waltz character is preserved naturally in the voice-leading — not flattened into 4/4 or forced into an awkward pop-style grid.
- Full Piano Accompaniment: A musicianly piano score that supports and colours the ensemble — not a bare reduction of the vocal line.
- Professional 600 DPI Engraving: Crisp, print-ready notation optimized for both professional printing and iPad/tablet reading during rehearsal.
- Performance License Included: Authorized for public concerts, wedding ceremonies, church services, and cultural events — ASCAP, BMI, and PRS jurisdictions covered.
- Bespoke Customization Available: Need an alternative key for a soloist, or a different voicing (SSA, TTBB, SSATB)? Contact Paul Lorenz directly for a custom edition.
When I Need You sheet music at a glance
| Song | When I Need You — written 1976 by Albert Hammond & Carole Bayer Sager, made famous by Leo Sayer |
| Arrangement | SATB choir with full piano accompaniment |
| Arranger | Paul Lorenz — arrangements recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road |
| Scoring | SATB choral score, individual soprano/alto/tenor/bass part copies, full piano accompaniment, and a combined conductor’s edition |
| Difficulty | Grade 3–4 (Intermediate) — experienced amateur choirs, choral societies, and professional ensembles |
| Format | High-resolution 600 DPI PDF — instant download, print- and tablet-ready |
| Licensing | Licensed arrangement; performance license included, standard PRO reporting (ASCAP/BMI/PRS) |
| Price | €29.90 |
Is this edition right for you?
Program this arrangement whenever you want the tender 3/4 waltz lilt of the original to live inside the choral writing rather than fight it. This edition is written for:
- Wedding ceremonies and civil services — an intimate, moving processional or reflection
- Church and community choirs looking for a familiar ballad that rewards careful phrasing
- Semi-professional and professional ensembles who want idiomatic voice-leading, not a flattened pop reduction
- Choirs whose accompanist deserves a genuine part to play, not a mechanical doubling
Need a transposition or a different voicing (SSA, TTBB, SSATB)? Paul Lorenz adapts it on request — just ask before you buy.
What you receive
- The full SATB choral score plus a combined conductor’s edition
- Individual soprano, alto, tenor, and bass part copies, ready for section distribution
- A complete, musicianly piano accompaniment — not a bare reduction of the vocal line
- High-resolution PDFs at 600 DPI, delivered instantly and yours to keep — no rental
Programming When I Need You
The song’s swaying waltz pulse makes it a natural moment of stillness in a concert or ceremony — an ideal reflective centrepiece between more extroverted repertoire, or a processional that settles a room. Take the tempo unhurried and let the 3/4 breathe; the intimacy of the melody rewards restraint over volume. It pairs beautifully with other tender ballads and wedding standards, and the full piano writing gives you colour to shape each verse. Explore the related arrangements below to build the rest of the programme.
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When I Need You sheet music — frequently asked questions
What exactly is included in the download?
You receive a complete choral package: the full SATB choral score, individual soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voice-part copies for section distribution, a full piano accompaniment score (not a reduction), and a combined conductor’s edition. Everything is delivered as high-resolution PDF files at 600 DPI, optimized for professional printing and tablet use.
What is the difficulty level of this choir arrangement?
Grade 3–4 (Intermediate). Designed for experienced amateur choirs, semi-professional choral societies, and professional ensembles. The 3/4 waltz time signature requires confident rhythmic ensemble work, but the voice-leading is idiomatic and accessible. Advanced community choirs with solid sight-reading will find this well within reach.
Is a performance license included with my purchase?
Yes. A performance license is included with every purchase, covering live concerts, wedding ceremonies, church services, corporate events, and other public performances. For ticketed performances, standard venue licensing with ASCAP, BMI, or PRS applies as usual — the arrangement license itself is fully covered by your purchase.
Can the arrangement be customized for my ensemble?
Absolutely. Paul Lorenz Music offers bespoke customization — a service unique in the professional sheet music market. Whether you need an alternative key for a soloist, a different voicing (SSA, TTBB, or SSATB), or adjustments for your specific roster, we can accommodate your requirements. Contact us directly to discuss your needs and timeline.
What is your refund policy?
Due to the digital nature of our products, refunds cannot be offered once the download has been accessed. We encourage you to review any available score preview carefully and contact us with any questions before purchasing. Our customer support is happy to assist.