Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Dave Wolpe's mastery of the Glenn Miller style of arranging made him a natural choice to write a sizable chunk of the band's Christmas material. This arrangement of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" finds a way to balance its own musical identity with several not-so-subtle allusions to some of the biggest Miller hits of yesteryear. As with most Miller arrangements, it is not overly difficult, but there are some atypically rangey brass parts toward the end.

Things kick off with a sneaky bass line that is eventually played by the trombone section before the first half of the melody is handled by the sax section at measure 9. The brass take over on the bridge before being rejoined by the saxes for the final A section. A "String of Pearls"-style send-off at measure 35 sets up both a key change and a split chorus of solos, with the first half going to trumpet and the second to tenor sax.

A short piano interlude returns the arrangement to its original key for the extended finale beginning at measure 75. The whole final portion of the arrangement is a musical love letter to In the Mood, with a repeated sax melody and brass riff getting gradually softer until roaring back to full force. Even the classic ending fanfare is replicated for good measure!

This publication was prepared using the original set of parts from the 1993 recording session - this is not a transcription.

Full Score
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Trumpet 1: E6
Trombone 1: Bb4