Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement with Male Vocal and Female Vocal Trio

Description: Swing - Medium

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

A holiday classic that has appeared in countless settings since its release in 1943, the Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters version of "Jingle Bells" will serve as a delightful feature for vocalists and instrumentalists alike. Its brisk pace and subtle melodic manipulations make it a fun experience for performers and listeners alike.

A deft piano solo sets up Crosby's entrance at measure 5, and continues until the full ensemble comes in a few measures later. The background figures in the horns throughout the arrangement are clearly designed to avoid interfering with the singers, and should be played with an appropriate level of restraint. After Crosby sings the first verse, the Andrews Sisters enter for the first time, singing the melody in a stretched out manner that implies half-time while still maintaining a brisk tempo.

Crosby maintains this feeling for his re-entrance with the verse at measure 69, with the melody returning to its original pace for a duet on the chorus. The ensemble breaks into a Dixieland-inspired soli at measure 117 with a reduced horn section consisting of clarinet, tenor sax, two trumpets, and trombone. A quick clarinet solo finally brings all of the singers together for one last simple re-statement of the melody with a traditional extended tag and ensemble figure to wrap things up.

This arrangement was prepared from John Scott Trotter's original score and the parts used for the 1943 recording session. The original arrangement featured only three trombones, as well as a woodwind section consisting of five clarinets (with one doubling on tenor saxophone). To make this arrangement playable for as many bands as possible, we have added in an optional 4th trombone part, as well as provided a set of woodwind parts transposed for a traditional lineup of saxophones with no clarinet doubling.

Full Score
Male Vocal
Female Vocal Trio (Soprano, 2 Altos)
5 Clarinets (Clarinet 3 Doubles Tenor Saxophone - Alternate Saxophone Parts Provided)
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones (Trombone 4 Optional)
Guitar
Piano
Acoustic Bass
Drum Set

Vocal Key: Eb
Trumpet 1: A5
Trombone 1: G4