Cole Porter Classics: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Douglas E. Wagner's arrangement captures the elegance and rhythmic drive that made these Porter standards unforgettable on Broadway, distilling them into a medley that works beautifully for student ensembles without sacrificing sophistication. At Grade 3, this collection sits at a sweet spot where bands can tackle genuinely interesting harmonic movement and articulation challenges while staying within their technical range. Programming Cole Porter gives your concert a touch of class and reminds audiences that great melodies never go out of style.

Stepping into a 1930s nightclub painted with elegant brushstrokes. The melodies have swagger and warmth, the harmonies shimmer with chromatic sophistication, and the overall arc feels like an evening of well-crafted entertainment where every note serves the song. There's a lightness and wit running through the whole experience, even as the students tackle rhythmic precision and tonal control.

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level seeking repertoire with genuine theatrical flair and harmonic substance. Directors programming a pops or standards-focused concert will find this medley engaging for both young musicians and audiences familiar with the original songs from film and stage. The variety within the medley also makes it useful for students learning to shift styles and articulation within a single piece.

• Shape the phrasing in each tune title as if a vocalist were singing the melody; this transforms what could feel like a medley into a cohesive storytelling experience. Pay attention to breath points and lyrical curves even though the band isn't singing.
• Balance the solo voices (often in trumpet or woodwind sections) with the harmonic foundation. Porter's songs live in their melodies, so make sure those lead lines have room to sing through the ensemble texture.
• Observe the style indications carefully; the difference between a sultry "Begin the Beguine" and the bouncy energy of "Anything Goes" lies in articulation, tempo, and dynamic restraint. Rehearse each song section as a distinct character.
• Lock the rhythm section (bass and drums) into a tight pocket before worrying about the melodic lines. Porter's songs swing when the foundation is secure.

Use this as the centerpiece of a pops or "Great American Songbook" concert, where it can anchor a program alongside other standards-based arrangements or serve as a finale that sends audiences home humming familiar melodies. The medley format also works well as a concert-opener that establishes energy and sophistication before moving into longer works. In the rehearsal calendar, it's rewarding material for late winter or spring concerts when students have developed enough ensemble cohesion to handle style changes.

• Stylistic flexibility and tonal shaping within a single arrangement
• Balance between solo voices and harmonic accompaniment in a fully voiced ensemble
• Phrasing and breath control modeled on vocal music (lyrical interpretation without lyrics)
• Rhythmic precision in swing and jazz-inflected grooves
• Dynamic control and articulation as tools for characterization