Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Contemporary Bolero - Advanced

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Majorca stands in stark contrast to the rest of the tracks from Oliver Nelson's 1963 album Full Nelson. Unlike the more traditional, straight-ahead material that fills out the rest of the record's run time, it features strong influences from both the rhythm of traditional bolero music and the harmony of French composers such as Maurice Ravel. There is no improvisation - every note is fully planned out, although soloists are afforded some slight interpretive leeway.

Beginning, appropriately enough, with delicately clicking castanets, the steady pulse that drives the entire performance gradually builds from the rhythm section up through the rest of the ensemble. All quarter notes that are marked legato should still be played with a hint of separation between them. The melody begins in the woodwinds (first solo oboe, then flutes and piccolo) before building into a broad chorale of trumpets at measure 29. Your trombone section should think of themselves as being more a part of the rhythm section at all times. The volume backs off a bit for a flute melody at measure 41, but can't be kept down for long as the trumpets come roaring back just a few measures later. Be sure to hold back just a tiny bit in order to keep enough in the tank for the final four measure stretch, which serves as a glorious climax to an altogether thrilling performance.

This publication was based on Oliver Nelson's condensed score (the parts are considered lost). Woodwind doubling is based on annotations Nelson made in his score for orchestration purposes. Alternate 3rd and 4th woodwind parts are included that eliminate the oboe and English horn doubles in favor of staying on clarinet.

 

Full Score
Woodwind 1: Clarinet/Piccolo
Woodwind 2: Clarinet/Flute/Piccolo
Woodwind 3: Oboe/Clarinet
Woodwind 4: English Horn/Clarinet (See Alternate Part)
Woodwind 5: Bass Clarinet/Flute
4 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Guitar
Bass
Drum Set
Percussion: Castanets
Alternate Woodwind 3: Clarinet
Alternate Woodwind 4: Clarinet

Trumpets 1-2: E6
Trombone 1: G4