Blackbird: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts
By John Lennon / By Paul McCartney / As performed by The Beatles / Arranged by Mike Tomaro
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00157847
$55.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Blackbird - Conductor Score (Full Score) | $10.00 | |
| Blackbird - Alto Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Alto Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Tenor Sax 1 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Tenor Sax 2 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Baritone Sax | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trumpet 1 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trumpet 2 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trumpet 3 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trumpet 4 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trombone 1 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trombone 2 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trombone 3 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Trombone 4 | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Guitar | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Piano | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Bass | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Drums | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - C Solo Sheet | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Bb Solo Sheet | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Eb Solo Sheet | $6.00 | |
| Blackbird - Bass Clef Solo Sheet | $6.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Perhaps one of the Beatles' lesser known tunes, "Blackbird" remains one of their most creative and memorable. Mike Tomaro's smooth setting uses a blend of light funk along with a brief samba section to create a truly outstanding effect. The theme is stated simply in the beginning on trumpet, followed by an array of orchestrational textures and harmonies.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00157847
More about this title
About the Composer: John Lennon
John Lennon revolutionized popular music as a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for The Beatles. His compositions ranged from intimate acoustic ballads to ambitious studio experiments, each demonstrating a keen ear for melody, harmonic innovation, and emotional directness. In the classroom, Lennon's work offers educators an entry point into how popular songwriters craft memorable hooks and meaningful lyrics without sacrificing musical sophistication.
Why we love this
Mike Tomaro strips away the original recording's fingerpicked guitar and reconstructs it for ensemble with genuine vitality. The funk and samba elements feel organic rather than tacked on, giving your students fresh interpretive challenges while keeping the melody that everyone recognizes instantly accessible.
What to expect
Sophisticated yet conversational, like overhearing a late-night jam session where players are having genuine fun. The arrangement moves through moods with ease, never losing sight of the song's understated beauty even as it explores new rhythmic territory.
Who it's for
Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level who want to build repertoire with high recognition factor and musical substance. This works equally well for festival programming, pops concerts, or mixed-level ensembles where stronger players can handle the voicing intricacy while younger musicians follow solid part writing.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the light funk pocket early in rehearsals; the ease of the opening trumpet statement depends on your rhythm section locking the groove without overplaying.
- Balance the orchestrational textures Tomaro layers in the middle section by assigning clear dynamic levels to each section rather than relying on players to blend by ear alone.
- Spotlight the samba section's character shift by letting it breathe slightly; resist the urge to rush the transition back to funk material.
- Use the recorded accompaniment as a reference for phrasing and articulation, especially where the trumpet melody sits against shifting harmonic colors.
How to use it
Pair this with other Beatles arrangements or popular standards to anchor a "Singer-Songwriters" or "Rock Classics" concert. It also serves as an excellent mid-year confidence builder for groups working toward spring contests, offering substantial ensemble writing without overwhelming younger players.
Skills your students will build
- Light funk rhythm section coordination (8th-note subdivision and pocket placement)
- Samba rhythmic patterns and cross-cultural ensemble awareness
- Balancing melody against moving harmonic accompaniment
- Trumpet phrasing in a contemporary pop context
- Listening to and executing orchestrational colors rather than playing individual lines in isolation