A Child Is Born by Thad Jones Small Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.930842

Description:

What on the surface looks like a run-of-the-mill trombone solo with piano backing turns out to be a clever multi-purpose arrangement of Thad Jones’ stirring composition. The bonus parts give you the choice to perform it 4 different ways:
1. Trombone Solo (Intermediate level) & Piano (needs a more advanced person used to playing jazz chords)
2. Add bass (Intermediate level)
3. Add drums (Intermediate level)
4. Add 4 woodwinds (2 flutes + 2 Bb clarinets, also intermediate level)

The arrangement is well suited for exam or public performance. The addition of bass, drums and woodwinds elevates it into that special class for a high school stage or even for a dance or big band as a small group "relief" tune.

The performance includes 16 measures of jazz improvisation consisting of 4-bar interplay between trombone and piano playing either the written notes or improvising on the chords.

Note: When adding the woodwinds please use all 4 or none!

Length: 3:08 / 76 measures
Score = 11 pages
Style: Even 8’s jazz waltz - gentle Bossa Nova/Latin feel

PDF Printing:

Please note that the score is formatted in LANDSCAPE and all the parts in PORTRAIT orientation.

Performance Notes:

Tempo: MM Quarter Note = 74
Length: 3:08 / 76 measures

Score = 11 pages

(The 30 second audio grab goes from measures 12 to 23)

Instrument Ranges (concert pitch): (C4 = middle C)

Trombone:
D3 to G4 (solid intermediate level). The addition of the lyrics can be used by the student or performer to interpret the tune more freely. 2 x 4 measures of improvisation requires chord/scale knowledge or the ability to make the 2 written solo sections come alive.

Flute 1:
D4 to D6 (solid intermediate level, not difficult technically).

Flute 2:
D4 to B5 (solid intermediate level, not difficult technically).

Clarinet 1:
E3 to G5 (solid intermediate level, not difficult technically).

Clarinet 2:
E3 to E5 (solid intermediate level, not difficult technically).

For a balanced performance sound-wise, all woodwind parts should be amplified. Please only use all 4 woodwinds together. It won’t work with just 3 or 2 or 1.

Piano: Advanced student or professional comfortable with jazz voicings. As with the trombone, the piano has 2 x 4-measure sections of either playing a written or improvised jazz solo. For an experienced jazz player this part can be interpreted freely especially when using the piano/trombone part.

Bass: Intermediate level, open to interpretation rhythmically. Acoustic bass preferred but not mandatory.

Drums: Intermediate level. Mostly brush work on snare and cymbal. Even after changing to sticks and in the couple of spots where tom-toms are written, the level must remain "nice". Feel free to create your own version of a 3/4-Waltz-Bossa-Nova.