All About the Blues: 2-Part Choral Octavo

$2.25 USD

All About the Blues: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Name: All About the Blues: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-6545
Price: 2.25 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Carl Strommen

Item: 00-6545

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Series: Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred's Jazz-Rock Selections

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081022772

SKU: 00-6545

Instrumentation: Opt. Stage Band

More about this title

About the Composer: Carl Strommen

Carl Strommen ranks among the most widely performed composer/arrangers in concert halls, on television, and in film across North America and beyond. His output spans band, orchestra, jazz band, and vocal music with equal facility, and he maintains an active schedule as both a clinician and commission composer. His consistent excellence has earned him the annual ASCAP Standard Writers Award throughout his career.

Strommen studied at City College of New York and has served on the faculty at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, where he teaches orchestration and composition. He divides his time between Long Island and Colorado, where his family regularly gathers.

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Why we love this

Strommen's blues arrangement captures the idiom's authentic feel while keeping the vocal writing accessible for developing singers. The optional stage band instrumentation gives you flexibility to feature the piece in different concert contexts, whether with full ensemble support or voices alone. The 2-part voicing lets younger or less experienced choirs explore jazz vocabulary without overwhelming them.

What to expect

Strommen's setting swings with genuine blues spirit, balancing the idiom's soulful character with clear, singable lines. The arrangement invites your singers to loosen up, feel the groove, and discover that blues harmony can sound both sophisticated and natural to young voices.

Who it's for

Young and intermediate choirs ready to explore jazz and blues idioms, or more experienced singers seeking an accessible entry point into secular ensemble singing. Directors building a jazz-focused concert or introducing students to American musical vernacular will find this rewarding for mixed skill levels. Works equally well in a general music class context or a dedicated jazz choir.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the blues phrases with swing feel rather than straight rhythms; the groove matters as much as the notes themselves.
If using the optional stage band parts, rehearse the band and choir separately first to establish the groove, then lock the ensemble together in full rehearsals.
Encourage singers to listen to classic blues recordings and notice how phrasing sits slightly behind the beat for expressive effect.
Balance the vocal parts so both lines remain audible; blues harmony often favors rich sonority over soprano dominance.

How to use it

Pair this with other jazz or blues selections for a thematic concert that celebrates American vernacular music, or use it as a bridge piece between classical choral work and more contemporary styles. Its 12-page length and flexible instrumentation make it ideal for a mid-concert shift in mood and energy.