Carnaval: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Carnaval: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-JE4092S
Price: 5.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Erik Morales

Grade: 2

Item: 98-JE4092S

$5.00

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What a great change of pace for your next concert! Based on Carnaval in Brazil, a holiday known for its brilliant color and pageantry, Carnaval evokes the exciting sounds of this culturally rich part of the world. Cabasa and agogo bells help set the mood for the silky-smooth bossa nova and every section gets some feature time. Great writing!

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Series: FJH Developing Jazz Ensemble

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 241444604830

SKU: 98-JE4092S

More about this title

About the Composer: Erik Morales

Erik Morales has built a prolific composing career across classical, jazz, and commercial idioms since the mid-1980s, when his high school band director first hired him to arrange marching band music in south Florida. A trumpet player by training, he earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette (1989) and studied composition at Florida International University. His work balances artistic ambition with educational accessibility, resulting in over 150 published compositions for wind, jazz, orchestral, and chamber ensembles performed internationally.

Moreles' contributions to trumpet literature have earned particular recognition, including first-place wins at the 2006 and 2008 National Trumpet Competitions and a featured premiere of his Concerto for Trumpet in C and Piano at the 2009 International Trumpet Guild conference. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame. Schools and organizations across the United States commission his work regularly, and his published compositions have been part of featured performances globally since 2002.

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Why we love this

Morales writes for jazz ensembles with genuine rhythmic sophistication and orchestrational clarity. Grade 2 doesn't mean simplistic here; every section gets genuine solo moments, and the Latin percussion writing (cabasa and agogo bells) creates authentic texture without requiring advanced technique. Your ensemble will sound polished and energetic.

What to expect

Warm, celebratory, and genuinely groovy. The bossa nova carries an easy sophistication with its silky harmonic vocabulary, while the percussion colors evoke the visual pageantry of Carnaval in Brazil. Energy builds naturally; the piece feels like a party rather than a lesson.

Who it's for

Jazz ensemble directors looking for accessible Latin repertoire that doesn't compromise on musicality or orchestration. This works for second-year programs or ensembles with developing improvisers, since everyone gets feature time and the arrangement sits comfortably on standard instrumentation.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the bossa nova groove early in rehearsals by isolating the rhythm section and letting the ensemble lock in before adding the melody.
Bring out the cabasa and agogo bells as textural colors rather than accompaniment; they define the piece's character and should sit forward in the mix.
Let each sectional feature breathe and shine independently; Morales writes for individual voices to be heard, so avoid overweighting the ensemble sound during solos.
Shape the smooth passages dynamically to avoid a flat, predictable feel; even Grade 2 writing rewards thoughtful phrasing and air.

How to use it

Use this as a concert opener or second piece to establish a Latin or world music theme. It pairs well alongside other bossa nova standards or Grade 2 Latin titles, giving your program rhythmic variety without requiring extensive rehearsal time. It's also ideal for spring concerts where mood and color matter more than technical display.