As Time Goes By: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Warren Barker's arrangement respects the song's iconic status while treating it with the textural sophistication your band deserves. The flexibility to feature a vocal soloist or switch to tenor saxophone, clarinet, or trombone soloist means you can cast this according to your ensemble's strengths in any given year. At Grade 5, the writing demands attentive ensemble balance and phrase shaping without excessive technical display, making it a vehicle for musical maturity rather than mechanical precision.

Romantic and intimate despite the full band setting. Barker's orchestration unfolds with a golden-age elegance, creating space for the soloist to convey both the song's nostalgia and its emotional directness. The arrangement never overwhelms the melody; instead, it amplifies what already makes the tune unforgettable.

Directors who have a strong vocalist or featured instrumentalist ready to perform with the concert band and want sophisticated, audience-friendly repertoire to match their soloist's skill. This arrangement works equally well in community bands with excellent singers or in school programs where you've developed a standout reed or brass soloist.

• Balance the solo voice or instrument so it sits naturally above the band; resist the urge to pull back the entire ensemble. Barker's orchestration supports rather than swallows the soloist.
• Shape the melody's arc across entire phrases rather than measuring beat by beat. This standard was born in the theater, where storytelling through legit phrasing matters more than metronomic regularity.
• Let the harmonic colors breathe. Barker's arranging signature includes rich voicings that reward slightly flexible tempos and attention to tonal balance across sections.
• If using an instrumental soloist, confirm ranges and adjust dynamics in the band parts accordingly. The solo tenor saxophone part, for example, sits higher than the vocal line and projects differently.

Program this as a concert centerpiece or finale when you want to shift tone toward accessibility and charm. It pairs well on a concert that mixes lighter fare with more demanding works, giving audiences a moment to settle into something they recognize while showcasing your band's ability to support solo performance. The 3:36 duration makes it substantial enough to stand alone without dominating program time.

• Ensemble balance and dynamic control while supporting a featured soloist
• Phrasing and shaping longer melodic lines over harmonic changes
• Reading and performing lush, four-part harmonic textures across the concert band
• Flexibility between straight and swing feels within a pop standard context