Edition: Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement

Description: Ballad - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

According to Nelson's liner notes, the full title of this movement should read "There's a yearnin' deep inside me." This melancholy composition is meant to directly follow up the newfound liberation of African-American slaves with the question "[we] are free...free to do what?" It evokes a sense of sorrow, and stylistically can be directly traced to the tradition of spirituals.

The horns gently set the tone before Nelson enters with the melody on alto sax at measure 5. The prodding background figure continues throughout most of the melody regardless of who is performing it at the time, and undergo several subtle dynamic shifts to provide shape to the performance. Additional depth comes from a rapidly ascending figure that occurs, at various times, in the celli, horns, and trombones.

Although Jerry Dodgion's flute and Joe Wilder's lead trumpet get to carry the melody at times, it's Nelson's sax that is the true star of this performance. Your alto sax soloist should perform with a clear, dark sound and minimal vibrato, as Nelson does on the original recording. The tune is essentially played through twice, ending with each section of instruments slowly dropping out until only the flute, one horn, and celli are left for the final chord.

This publication was based on Oliver Nelson's original pencil score - this is not a transcription.

Full Score
Woodwind 1: Alto Saxophone Soloist
Woodwind 2: Flute
Woodwind 3: Clarinet/Flute
4 Trumpets
4 Horns in F
3 Trombones
Tuba
2 Celli
Acoustic Bass
Drum Set (with Finger Cymbal)
Bongos

Trumpet 1: B5
Horn in F 1 and 2: C5
Trombone 1: G4