Edition: Jazz Sextet Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

John Kirby's well-documented appreciation of classical music should mean it is no surprise that his famous sextet often performed jazz versions of famous classical themes. This Lou Singer arrangement, recorded in 1941 by John Kirby and His Onyx Club Boys, is a playful adaptation of the second movement of Beethoven's 7th symphony.

Said playful mood is established almost immediately with a darting riff in the woodwinds before Charlie Shavers' trumpet joins up atop the horn section for the first main theme at measure 9. The volume level should be kept relatively low and easy at first despite the brisk tempo. The familiar theme from Beethoven 7 Mvt. 2 comes in at measure 45, with the woodwinds playing as smoothly (and sans vibrato) as possible. The band moves back to a more swinging feel when Shavers returns at measure 61.

After solos from Russell Procope on alto sax and Shavers, the mellow classical mood returns before some growls from Shavers provides a series of blunt interjections at measure 105. A series of short ensemble bursts sets up the final riff, leading into an unexpectedly sour chord before the ensemble wraps things up in crisp, clean fashion.

This publication was prepared using an incomplete set of original parts and the 1941 recording. An optional guitar part is included.

 

Full Score
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Trumpet
Guitar (Optional)
Piano
Bass
Drum Set

Trumpet: A5