A Salute to the Big Bands: Full Orchestra Conductor Score

Custer's orchestration captures the swagger and polish of the Big Band era without requiring the massive pit ensemble those original arrangements demanded. The medley structure lets you program genuine nostalgia in under eight minutes, and the Grade 3.5 instrumentation keeps the energy high while staying playable by most full orchestras.

The Big Band sound lives in the blend of brass chorale and dancing saxophones, anchored by a rhythm section that swings. Custer's arrangement captures that sheen and optimism while keeping orchestral colors bright and forward, giving listeners the warmth of a live dance band transplanted to the concert stage.

This score works for orchestras that want to step outside classical repertoire without straying far from the concert hall. It suits groups at the intermediate level (Grade 3.5) that are comfortable balancing popular style with the demands of a full ensemble.

• Balance the saxophone and brass sections carefully; they carry the melody throughout, and clarity matters more than volume when layering ensemble figures.
• Treat the rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) as the heartbeat. Lock tempos here first, then build the rest of the orchestra around that groove.
• The transitions between medley sections happen quickly. Mark them clearly in your score and rehearse the conductor cues so players anticipate key and tempo shifts.
• Let the style breathe. These songs thrive on swing eighth notes and syncopation, not metronomic precision. Your phrasing will sound stilted if the orchestra plays it too straight.

Open a pops concert with this, or place it in the second half as a palate cleanser between heavier works. The medley format also makes it ideal for family concerts or educational performances where variety and recognizable melodies draw audiences in.

• Swing feel and syncopated rhythms
• Sectional balance and blend across saxophone, brass, and woodwind choirs
• Following rapid tempo and key changes within a single piece
• Responding to stylistic cues that differ from classical conventions