When I Need You — Orchestra Sheet Music
Leo Sayer’s perennial wedding ballad, arranged for full orchestra and solo voice by Paul Lorenz — the professional edition the market has never had
Every wedding musician knows the moment — the client request arrives: “Could you play ‘When I Need You’?” What follows is two frustrating weeks of searching: Musicnotes, Sheet Music Plus, MuseScore, every publisher’s catalog. What you find are piano-vocal charts, beginner arrangements, and community uploads riddled with notation errors. For one of the bestselling pop ballads of the 1970s — a song that has graced professional galas, wedding ceremonies, and televised performances across five decades — no professional orchestral edition has ever been commercially available.
This arrangement by Paul Lorenz is that edition. Built on 30 years of professional experience and a performance legacy forged at the Vienna State Opera, Abbey Road Studios, and alongside the London Symphony Orchestra, it delivers every detail a conductor demands: MOLA-compliant 8.5mm staves, measure numbers at every system, individually extracted and proofread parts for every section, and page turns placed for maximum rehearsal efficiency. The song’s characteristic 3/4 waltz pulse — which lesser arrangements habitually flatten — is honoured throughout, giving the orchestration the understated elegance that has made “When I Need You” a ceremony standard for nearly 50 years.
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 “When I Need You” edition
Orchestra & Vocals
€49.90The definitive orchestral edition for professional ensembles — complete conductor’s score in A3 format plus all individual instrument parts, extracted, proofread, and ready for the stand. Everything your orchestra needs for a performance-ready presentation of this beloved waltz ballad.
- Instant PDF download
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- Licensed edition
SATB Choir
from €29.90
“When I Need You” is also published in this scoring — with its own score preview and full details on the edition page.
View this edition →Quality in detail
- Complete Performance Package: Conductor’s score plus all individual instrument parts in a single download — everything your ensemble needs, nothing missing.
- MOLA-Compliant Engraving: 8.5mm conductor score staves and 600 DPI resolution — readable from the podium and flawless on tablets and iPad Pro.
- Rehearsal-Efficient Layout: Measure numbers at every system, cross-instrument entry cues, and page turns placed at natural breaks — fewer corrections, faster rehearsals.
- Clearly Licensed for Your Ensemble: Your purchase licenses this edition for performances by the purchasing ensemble — concerts, wedding ceremonies and public events. Public performances are reported to your PRO (ASCAP/BMI/PRS or GEMA/AKM/SUISA) by the organiser as usual.
- Authentic 3/4 Waltz Orchestration: The arrangement preserves the song’s original waltz character with idiomatic orchestral writing — not retrofitted from a pop chart.
- Bespoke Customization Available: Need a different key for your vocalist, or reduced instrumentation for a chamber ensemble? Contact us — turnaround typically 2–3 business days.
When I Need You sheet music at a glance
| Song | When I Need You — Leo Sayer (written by Albert Hammond & Carole Bayer Sager), 1977 |
| Arrangement | Full orchestra with solo voice, in the song’s original 3/4 waltz character |
| Arranger | Paul Lorenz — arrangements recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road |
| Scoring | Full A3 conductor’s score plus all individual instrument parts and a vocal lead sheet |
| Difficulty | Grade 4–5 — intermediate to professional ensembles |
| Format | High-resolution 600 DPI PDF — instant download, print- and tablet-ready |
| Licensing | Licensed for performances by the purchasing ensemble; public performances reported to your PRO (ASCAP/BMI/PRS or GEMA/AKM/SUISA) by the organiser as usual |
| Reference recording | Paul Lorenz’ own studio recording — sound sample on this page, complete on Artyfile Stream |
| Price | €49.90 |
Is this edition right for you?
Program this when a couple or client asks for When I Need You and only a professional, podium-ready orchestral score will do. This edition is written for:
- Wedding and gala orchestras performing the ballad at ceremonies and receptions
- Semi-professional and professional ensembles working in crossover and commercial repertoire
- Conductors who need MOLA-compliant engraving, measure numbers, and dependable page turns
- Music directors building an elegant, ceremony-ready set list
Need a transposition or a different voicing? Paul Lorenz adapts it on request — just ask before you buy.
What you receive
- The full A3 conductor’s score
- All individual orchestral parts and a vocal lead sheet, individually extracted and proofread
- High-resolution PDFs, delivered instantly and yours to keep — no rental
Programming When I Need You
This is a ballad to place at an intimate, emotional high point of a programme — a first dance, a ceremony processional, or a tender interlude between livelier numbers. Take it at an unhurried waltz pulse and let the 3/4 lilt breathe; the orchestration is written to support a solo voice rather than compete with it, so keep the dynamics restrained and the phrasing legato. It pairs naturally with other slow standards and film ballads to build a romantic segment. 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
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 exactly is included in the download?
You receive a complete, performance-ready package: the full conductor’s score in A3 format, all individual orchestral parts (Violin I & II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Clarinet, French Horns I & II, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano/Keyboard, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums/Percussion), and a vocal lead sheet with melody and lyrics. Everything is delivered as high-resolution PDF files optimized for professional printing and tablet use.
What is the difficulty level of this arrangement?
Grade 4–5 (Intermediate to Professional). This arrangement is designed for semi-professional and professional orchestras with experience in commercial crossover and wedding repertoire. The 3/4 waltz phrasing requires ensemble familiarity with ballad-style conducting and nuanced dynamic shaping.
Is a performance license included with my purchase?
Yes. Your purchase includes the licence for performances by the purchasing ensemble at concerts, wedding ceremonies and corporate events. 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 for my ensemble?
Absolutely. Paul Lorenz Music offers bespoke customization — a service unique in the professional sheet music market. Whether you need the arrangement transposed to a different key for your vocalist, instrumentation substitutions (e.g. saxophone for clarinet), or a reduced scoring for a smaller chamber ensemble, 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.