Edition: Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Ballad/Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

There are few voices in the history of modern popular music more suited to perform Christmas songs than the rich, resonant baritone of Bing Crosby. Naturally, his 1943 interpretation of I'll Be Home for Christmas does a wonderful job of capturing the wistful melancholy of the lyrics and melody, and John Scott Trotter's arrangement only enhances this mood.

On the original recording, the melody is performed twice by Crosby. The first time consists of a slow, freely phrased interpretation with lush string textures providing the harmonic base and some light guitar fills functioning as some additional framing. A short ensemble figure sets up the tempo before Crosby sings the melody again, this time with background figures weaving in and out across the entire ensemble. The final portion sees a return to the slow rubato of the beginning, so be sure that your ensemble is paying attention to how your vocalist is phrasing.

Not present on the original recording is an instrumental chorus that is sandwiched between Crosby's two melody statements. Likely cut for time purposes, we have opted to include this section to allow you to give your ensemble a chance to shine. The arrangement is not overly complex, but does a nice job of passing the baton around between the sections to give everyone a bit of spotlight. Things begin with a clarinet solo, followed by the strings, then back to another clarinet solo, with the full (but not necessarily loud) brass bringing the segment to a close. Crosby performed this arrangement on the radio multiple times in 1943 and 1944 (including on November 20, 1944 on the Frank Sinatra In Person Radio Show, sponsored by Vimms Vitamins). For these radio performances an alternate ending was composed. This publication includes both endings so you have a choice in how you want to end the arrangement.

This publication was based on John Scott Trotter's pencil score and the original set of parts used for the 1943 recording session.

Full Score
Male Vocal
4 Clarinets
Bass Clarinet (Optional)
4 Trumpets (Trumpet 4 Optional)
3 Trombones
4 Violins
Viola
Cello
Harp (Optional)
Guitar
Piano
Acoustic Bass
Drum Set

Vocal Key: G
Trumpet 1: B5
Trombone 1: A4