Carnaval: Score
By Erik Morales
Grade: 2
Item: 98-DJE4092S
$5.00
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Description
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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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Developing Jazz Ensemble
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DJE4092S
More about this title
About the Composer: Erik Morales
Erik Morales began composing professionally in 1985 when a high school band director commissioned arrangements for the marching ensemble in south Florida. He went on to study composition at Florida International University and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette (1989). His catalog now includes over 150 published works spanning classical, jazz, wind, orchestral, and chamber settings, with performances featured internationally.
A trumpet player himself, Morales has made significant contributions to the trumpet repertoire. His trumpet ensemble writing has earned first place awards at the National Trumpet Competitions (2006, 2008), and his Concerto for Trumpet in C and Piano was premiered at the 2009 International Trumpet Guild conference. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, he has balanced artistic integrity with educational value, receiving regular commissions from schools and organizations nationwide.
Why we love this
Morales captures the infectious energy of Brazilian Carnival without overwhelming a developing ensemble. The piece smartly distributes solos across the section, ensuring every player gets something memorable to play, while the bossa nova foundation provides a groove that locks the band together naturally.
What to expect
Carnaval moves with the fluid ease of a samba, all silky bossa nova grooves and warm horn colors. The piece radiates celebration, the kind of music that makes an audience smile the moment it starts.
Who it's for
Young jazz ensembles at the Grade 2 level who are ready for Latin styles but need writing that respects their developing chops. Directors looking to add vibrant concert material that feels fresh without requiring advanced technical facility will find this ideal.
How to get the most out of it
- Listen for the cabasa and agogo bells in the arrangement; these percussion colors anchor the Brazilian character. Make sure those players understand they're not adding texture, they're setting the cultural foundation.
- The melody sits beautifully in the middle register where most young jazz players can handle it comfortably. Shape the phrases with the same legato you'd find in a ballad, even though the tempo is brisk.
- Lock the rhythm section (bass and drums) into the bossa nova clave before running the full ensemble. A steady foundation here makes every other section's job easier.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to shift the energy immediately, or use it as a palate cleanser between heavier, more introspective selections. Its cultural specificity makes it perfect for a concert celebrating world music or Latin American contributions to jazz.
Skills your students will build
- Bossa nova rhythm patterns and Brazilian clave foundations
- Solo navigation and confidence in lead voices
- Latin percussion integration with jazz ensemble textures
- Phrasing and articulation consistent with jazz interpretation